AB7 Whole Crop Cereals in Countryside Stewardship 2023

[StormInATeaCup]

Looking for advice on AB7 - Whole Crop Cereals in Countryside Stewardship.

I’m converting to organic before Jan 23 so would be growing an organic whole crop to put in our clamp.

What would be the best spring whole crop be for making silage to finish cattle?

Can it be a combination of a cereal and a legume like spring barley and vetches (or just a cereal on its own?)

Are there any pitfalls to consider? I’m aware that there will be stubbles / bare ground over winter

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You are only supposed to add additional crops to 10% of the area before or after harvest , "small areas " I'm supprised you can whole crop it as its states harvest as late as possible so it's starting to shed seed , they also state barley is the best option , sheds more seed I expect , best thing is check with your field adviser

 

[Samcowman]

You are only supposed to add additional crops to 10% of the area before or after harvest , "small areas " I'm supprised you can whole crop it as its states harvest as late as possible so it's starting to shed seed , they also state barley is the best option , sheds more seed I expect , best thing is check with your field adviser

Additional crops is during or after harvest. If you were to undersow the wholecrop with something such as a white clover and leave it till the February date then it is ok by my reckoning.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I've asked twice for derogations to include peas or lupins and it's been rejected twice.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

​

10% is not a total area undersow​

​

Managing the whole crop option​

You can enhance whole crop cereal stubbles by broadcasting beneficial seed and nectar-producing plants, such as mustard and fodder radish, on small areas during or after harvest up to a maximum of 10% of the total whole crop stubble area. This will provide additional feeding and foraging value.

 

[B'o'B]

Here’s the list of what you can’t do

Prohibited activities​

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:

• apply any herbicides except those on the list of permitted active ingredients
• apply any insecticides between 15 March and the following harvest
• apply any fertilisers, manures or lime to the stubble
• top or graze

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

As you can see there is no mention of only planting cereals in that list. You need to check what your actual agreement says as that is what you will be judged against.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Here’s the list of what you can’t do

Prohibited activities​

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:

• apply any herbicides except those on the list of permitted active ingredients
• apply any insecticides between 15 March and the following harvest
• apply any fertilisers, manures or lime to the stubble
• top or graze

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

As you can see there is no mention of only planting cereals in that list. You need to check what your actual agreement says as that is what you will be judged against.

I think to stay within term of the scheme, then it's cereals with small areas of beneficial seed ,if a farmer wants to push the boundaries that's up to him , but best check first



Establish a spring cereal crop (not maize) and harvest as a whole crop. Leave the stubble until the following spring.

 

[B'o'B]

I think to stay within term of the scheme, then it's cereals with small areas of beneficial seed ,if a farmer wants to push the boundaries that's up to him , but best check first



Establish a spring cereal crop (not maize) and harvest as a whole crop. Leave the stubble until the following spring.

The small area of beneficial seeds is (a) in the “recommended management” section. (b) deals with the stubble during or after harvest.

Personally I wouldn’t go to mad including none cereals in the seed, but wouldn’t have a big problem including some, especially if the plants where terminated by the whole crop harvest.

 

[StormInATeaCup]

I've asked twice for derogations to include peas or lupins and it's been rejected twice.

What have you grown instead? Were you given reasons for peas/lupins being rejected?

 

[StormInATeaCup]

Glad I’m not the only one that’s confused by the AB7 guidance! Has anyone else had experience with this option?

Has anyone made wholecrop silage from it for cattle?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Glad I’m not the only one that’s confused by the AB7 guidance! Has anyone else had experience with this option?

Has anyone made wholecrop silage from it for cattle?

The wording is very confusing , it's states cut as grain and straw ,leaving as late as possible so some grain is shed , to me that would suggest they want it combined , but they don't clearly state that , on the undersown cereals option , they clearly state in should be combined as a grain crop

 

[Cows 'n grass]

What have you grown instead? Were you given reasons for peas/lupins being rejected?

Because the rules say so. My stewardship contact completely understood that adding peas or lupins would be beneficial to pollinators and it would reduce my herbicide options to zero which would give a weedier stubble, but the rules say no and that's what goes

I've got 100ac of ab7. It's alright, I feed it to late lactation and dry dairy cows. This was last year's spring barley, it was cut a week later than it should have been.

 

[StormInATeaCup]

Just spoken to someone at RPA who said that spring peas is compatible with AB7 so although I can't grow a spring barley & peas mix, I could grow them separately and put them in the clamp at the same time

 

[Grass And Grain]

Just spoken to someone at RPA who said that spring peas is compatible with AB7 so although I can't grow a spring barley & peas mix, I could grow them separately and put them in the clamp at the same time

They don't seem to know what an earth they're doing.

• Peas clearly isn't a cereal
• Can't see why they shouldn't have allowed legume/cereal blend in the first instance

 

[Derrick Hughes]

They don't seem to know what an earth they're doing.

• Peas clearly isn't a cereal
• Can't see why they shouldn't have allowed legume/cereal blend in the first instance

It's pointless anyway as if you can cut it for Silage that won't leave a ripe grain for the birds will it

 

[Grass And Grain]

It's pointless anyway as if you can cut it for Silage that won't leave a ripe grain for the birds will it

Exactly what I thought. Better to combine it if they want some grain left for the birds .

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

can you not add some crimson/red clover? these will flower and perhaps a good addition to silage?