- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
AHL2 - Winter Bird Food
- Thread starter Stephensonlouis
- Start date
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Clive argues the wildflower element is mandatory...
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Zippy has posted the prescription from SF website. My understanding of the English is 6 species sown together, not 3species sown at two different times. But that is only my interpretation of the written English. I will seek clarification from RPA Defra.
there is no prescription - just aims you have to set out to achieve
i will be using 6 species within the ahl2 year - it doesn’t say they must grow at the same time just what purposes they must serve
there is no doubt - it’s an aim ( not wildflowers though - “pollinator habitat”)
only question is can that element be harvested. …….. maybe it can i guess as long as you achieve the aims that are clearly stated
- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
It literally says what purpose the 6 species are for.
To establish the winter bird food, you must sow a mix of at least 6 crops that will supply an extended supply of small seeds for birds
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
"you must sow a mix of at least 6 crops that will provide an extended supply of small seeds for farmland birds."
I would ague that leave no doubt you need to put in a minimum 6 species after the barley, species that can reasonably be expected to set seed before winter....
- Location
- Thames Valley
Stacking certain SFI options is not possible on the same parcel on the RPA website so I think this will settle some of the points made about sequencing two field scale options on one parcel in a 12 month period.
which I will be doing within the ahl2 year of my rotation
you need to be smart about your agreemnet start date for this which can be any month you like
- Location
- Thames Valley
Not sure how that will work though as you’ll get stuck in year 2 as the options move through the system.
"you must sow a mix of at least 6 crops that will provide an extended supply of small seeds for farmland birds."
I would ague that leave no doubt you need to put in a minimum 6 species after the barley, species that can reasonably be expected to set seed before winter....
doesn't say you need to drill or 6 together just that there must be 6 - but it does say what aims you need the standard to achieve, my plan should provide the winter bird fed aim and the summer pollinator habits aim
not if you are planning on doing same every year - if I use a jan start date I will be able to achieve both aims of ahl2 within a payment year using my drill twice approach
if I started it in october I wouldn't
- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
Oh please.....
Sowing the other half of the 6 in spring is hardly gonna provide "winter bird food"
It clearly says a MIX of 6.
I admire what you are trying to do with these options and the whole thinking outside the box. But you know you are pushing the boundaries of the description of these options. Imo trying to find a loophole.
I find it ironic that playing such a game will likely mean that in future these sfi options will be far more descriptive and restricting.
How do you guarantee a Jan start date as I'm very interested in the plan. I was also hoping to establish after W Barley and use AHL2
- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
Lost me...
One has to achieve the aims within 12 months? By starting in jan, you'd only achieve the Winter bird feed part (having drilled July) but not the summer pollinator bit.
Surely an Oct start would be better for yout method - drilled the July before agreement start date. Achieving the winter bit stright away and the pollinator bit the following summer
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
What baffles me is Chris isnt interested in questioning if purpose is contractually a binding part of the aim but gives no second thought to redefining the word mix.
imagine ordering a mixed grill and only a sausage arrives, the rest will arrive in 6 months the waiter says
imagine ordering a concrete mix, lorry turns up and pours but it doesn’t start to set, you ring to complain and are told the cement will be delivered at a later date
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Ok Clive. My understanding of the written English is different to you. The prescription says ‘sow a mix of at least 6 crops’. My interpretation of the English is to include all 6 as a mix when sowing. Now whether you sow the same 6 twice is a different matter. Sorry to labour the point but although everyone else seems quite relaxed with the RPA Inspectorate as being advisers I just want to ensure the scheme 'rules' are being met. I am receiving several comments from farmers who have read your piece if Direct Drillers. Where is Janet Hughes when needed. Hey ho.
- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
Now if one really wants to be to pull apart every word in the prescription and turn it into some sort of game. One would drill a mix of 6 species as stated for "winter bird food", BUT it doesn't say how many has to be sown for the secondary pollinator aspect. Clive could just redrill a single crop in the spring
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I am not trying to turn it into some sort of game. I am just seeking to clarify what will be allowed by RPA Inspectorate if one gets a farm visit.