Recent content by Aardvark139

Personally I think the changes are reasonable and proportionate. From what has been said in the press and other channels, this would only affect a tiny proportion of the applications that have been made, so 95% plus of applicants remain unaffected. Only people trying to take the proverbial...

Don't forget that many flower seeds are like dust when compared to the size of Vetches, Buckwheat or even Phacelia. Don't be too concerned about what look like low weights of flowers.

Yes, it matters a lot as you will not have met the "Aims". Hiding behind following the CS prescription with invoices, etc is exactly why RPA and DEFRA have written the SFI Guidance (rules) in this way. We have to deliver what the public is paying for, or we will not get paid. I don't expect...

I agree that they have said the will not "Fine" but that is not the same as witholding payment. To me a fine would be additional to non-payment, as used to be the case with some Stewardship penalties (also they could be retrospective and assumptive about previous years). How long do you think...

Read the guidance carefully, there is a list of things that can and cannot follow each other. NUM3 cannot follow SAM2 (OW Cover Crop) for example.

There is a difference between "Punitive" consequences or fines and simply not getting paid for something that you have failed to deliver. I think you are being very Cavalier with your interpretations of what is required and what is possible. I don't think you are helping your members with this...

Completely agree with this point of view. No-one yet knows what the Spring opportunities will be for drilling, but once we get into April I would think very hard about spending money of growing a crop for immediate profit - It could simply deliver an immediate loss, impact on the following...

Firstly I think you should be pretty happy with the ground cover you have achieved in a difficult season, but the seed rate looks quite high to me? This will have the effect of reducing the radishes ability to produce a big tap root but some people prefer lots of smaller ones, particularly...

With the picture of the crop above, adding some early season Nitrogen will make a massive difference to how well the Kale grows in year 2. We always give ours a dose when applying it to the OSR in Feb / March (about 50kg of N is ideal). It is well worth the investment as we have no...

Yes please for both.

I doubt that I would get Clubroot with a pH of 6.8 and a decent rotation. Was hoping to allow the OSR volunteers to become a part of the mix anyway Britt so I suppose we have the same idea. Keen to introduce some variety, just want fast growth under "normal" UK conditions for 8-10 weeks.

While I understand some of the benefits of Multi-species mixes for cover crops, in a situation where the crop is only growing for 8-10 weeks are the same benefits achievable? I am thinking that for a post-OSR, before mid/late Oct-sown W Wheat I might be better going for a simple mix that...

Thanks for sharing this, very interesting! I have been looking at multi-annual crops to produce bio-gas material and environmental benefits, so many of these species would be helpful.