AHL2 duration.

[mountfarm]

Starting a new thread because the other one has got too long to find any information within it.

So this AHL2 option in SFI looks ok initially but not so sure when you dig deeper. The aim is copied below and in the ‘how to do it’ section it says ‘It’s up to you how you complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim’.

So how long should this be in the ground? The only way we can slot it in is after early cereal harvest and before something like maize in May so about 8-9 months in the ground. To me that would achieve its aim.

‘’This action’s aim
This action’s aim is that there are areas of winter bird food that produce a supply of small seeds for smaller farmland birds from late autumn until late winter.

The purpose of this is to:

• provide food resources for farmland birds, especially in late autumn and winter
• encourage flowering plants in the summer, which will benefit insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies
• support an IPM approach if located close to cropped area

 

[Oilseed]

• encourage flowering plants in the summer, which will benefit insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

The above must mean it should be still in the ground June July August?

 

[yellow belly]

Imho

plant before early June leave till following summer

needs fertiliser and seed mixture this will encourage weeds

there are other options that gross margin after costs to a similar level

been growing wild bird mix under stewardship for 10 years
when inspected they do not like all one species ie barley but they do need to see the different species
if you sail close to the wind make sure you have pictures proving you have met the aims

 

[Billboy1]

trying ahl2 this time hoping to sow april may time do they actually need fert to give them a kick start ?

 

[Andy26]

It's a mid-late spring drilled option till end of February, so in the ground 8-9 months.

You don't need fertiliser, i haven't in my AB9 previously.

 

[Andy26]

The above must mean it should be still in the ground June July August?

I'd agree with you, there are some who believe the purposes are completely irrelevant and it's only the Aim that has any weight in all the text of the option.

 

[warksfarmer]

Imho

plant before early June leave till following summer

needs fertiliser and seed mixture this will encourage weeds

there are other options that gross margin after costs to a similar level

been growing wild bird mix under stewardship for 10 years
when inspected they do not like all one species ie barley but they do need to see the different species
if you sail close to the wind make sure you have pictures proving you have met the aims

We've had AB9 for years and never applied any fertiliser or used a herbicide. I've never noticed any grass weeds in it but it does let thistles in.

Which other ones give the same gm? I think AHL2 will give a net margin of £772/ha.

 

[Steevo]

Which other ones give the same gm? I think AHL2 will give a net margin of £772/ha.

It would be interesting to see some margins for each of the different options.

 

[Steevo]

I'd agree with you, there are some who believe the purposes are completely irrelevant and it's only the Aim that has any weight in all the text of the option.

There do seem to be a few around that are looking to pull a fast one and could well end up being tripped up if an inspector pays an interest.

 

[fudge]

There do seem to be a few around that are looking to pull a fast one and could well end up being tripped up if an inspector pays an interest.

It’s crazy isn’t it? Stretching the practicality of these generous options destroys the credibility of the whole scheme. I see it as a waste of public money, failing to meet the aims of the option is technically ok, but it destroys the SFI because it just hands ammunition to people who think like me.