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However, there does seem to be a conflict with AHL1 thats probably not solveable: The 5 species listed in the handbook are biennial plants, so wont flower in the 1st year of sowing them. The rules say that AHL1 can be done annually as long as the aims of the actions are met. This is arguably...

Perhaps with some careful thought re which of the 5 species specified in the handbook it is achievable. But its what you can put with it that makes it very achievable. All sorts that have short seed to flower periods that would work: phacelia, mustard, berseem and crimson clover etc

if a poorly established AHL2 is providing seeds for birds, then I cant see what they could do? We wont lose payment as long as we show what weve done, and justified why. Worst case the payment reverts down to perhaps SAM2? But that doesnt mean you still couldnt do NUM3 or AHL1 in the following...

My thoughs are that if w barley harvest isnt particularly early, spread with boomed spreader just prior to harvest, cut high, chop rest, stubble rake and roll to stimulate germination if it hasnt already started. Biggest risk is probably slugs, i wouldnt dare broadcast ferric phosphate into a...

Indeed but we are comitting to different action aims: ie AHL2 provides bird food, SAM2 doesnt need to

The more discussion and thought I've had about my original idea (post 94 in this thread) the more I wonder about replacing NUM3 with AHL1? So why not: Wheat 2022/3 Barley 2023/4 AHL2 sown summer 2024 (including legumes and some self sowing species that would survive into the spring) then...

many legume species can survive a dose og glyphosate

Many are missing my initial point about sowing the NUM3 mix (or at least a proportion of it) in with the AHL2 mix in july, it will then be there raring to go in the spring. Much more room for success, by having two cracks of the whip in establishment of legumes some clovers and birdsfoot...

indeed so. But in an ideal world DEFRA wouldnt want all bird food sown in july.

Agree. what is pertinent to all this, is that deciding on the right start date is vital for every individual business. Starting in feb might be right for AHL2/NUM3. But it might not be for IPM4, because the chances of being insecticide free on say NUM3 and then a winter cereal will be much...

Did you hear back from Sandy Kalipa re AHL2 fb NUM3 as being an acceptable thing if start date is in feb?

The forefeit is a loss of income from an already risky spring break crop. DDing after AHL2 is fraught with risk. If they can't accomodate that risk by paying well, well they can't expect much uptake then. The core rotation wins out for me. I'll find private enterprise schemes that do fit my...

In terms of weed control, on the contrary, im not too bothered about any weeds in the autumn, as the only weeds that could come to seed in the autumn here are possibly groundsel and perhaps sowthistle? Anyway it all provides cover for wild birds. In fact regrowth from winter barley stubbles...

low levels of cyanide in linseed makes Absolutely agree! If £1000/ha was on the table for one cropping year (say July-July) and we provided Winter bird food for the winter months, and flowering species for pollinators in the spring (perhaps all species sown in July?) Then this creates the...

It isnt to do with finding a loophole, its to do with desperately trying being able to fit the actions into your rotation, without being out of pocket!

Crazy legislation, unenforcible, plus BSPB royalty has been paid already, so totally unnecessary twaddle

Perhaps broadcast AHL2 seed into the standing cereal crop in June? Cut cereals high at harvest. gives possibility of flowering species in summer. Legumes mixed into the AHL2 mix survive into the spring (even with a dose of glyphosate?) and are then well established (in theory) to flower in the...

This is where SFI has dropped the ball! No supplementary feeding option when the sown bird food has gone

No it has always been the aim of any new scheme to be light handed and non prescriptive, because thats what farmers wanted in the consultation

Disappointing that SFI hasnt embraced supplementary feeding. That does far more than sown plots imho