Companion cropping in wheat.

[Mixedupfarmer]

That starts to move into the territory of stretching the rules. I doubt you can use the beans as part of your cover as well as a companion, that would be double funding surely.

Not sure, as it is achieving the objectives in different months, as the prescription states. £55 doesn't give much room for additional seed / seeding costs.

 

[Clive]

In theory, yes but I'd declare tonnes sown, not hectares!

or grow a variety so old it no longer has to pay ?

our beans are so old i have no ideas what variety they even are ! it’s probably evolved into my own variety now even

 

[Clive]

That starts to move into the territory of stretching the rules. I doubt you can use the beans as part of your cover as well as a companion, that would be double funding surely.

agree - i don’t think you can harvest a sam2 so would fall down on that requirement ?

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

agree - i don’t think you can harvest a sam2 so would fall down on that requirement ?

Where does it say this?

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

agree - i don’t think you can harvest a sam2 so would fall down on that requirement ?

Although I do know a few people who have used winter barley as a cover crop as part of mid tier!
Even suggests it in the guidance

 

[Brisel]

or grow a variety so old it no longer has to pay ?

our beans are so old i have no ideas what variety they even are ! it’s probably evolved into my own variety now even

Let me know how that discussion with BSPB went please! The seed law says if it's on the list and you have sown it, you have to pay royalties even if it doesn't get harvested.

It's a daft law that needs rewriting for modern demands but I can't see Parliament ever wanting to spend the time on it.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

agree - i don’t think you can harvest a sam2 so would fall down on that requirement ?

 

[B'o'B]

IPM3 can only be claimed on the same parcel as SAM2 if the companion crop isn’t there over the winter so would need under-sowing in the spring. Not worth the bother to try and claim both in my opinion.

 

[Ebenezer Spud]

IPM3 can only be claimed on the same parcel as SAM2 if the companion crop isn’t there over the winter so would need under-sowing in the spring. Not worth the bother to try and claim both in my opinion.

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Might as well go for SAM2 instead of IPM3 then, much better payment

 

[Clive]

Let me know how that discussion with BSPB went please! The seed law says if it's on the list and you have sown it, you have to pay royalties even if it doesn't get harvested.

It's a daft law that needs rewriting for modern demands but I can't see Parliament ever wanting to spend the time on it.

I make my declarations every year and pay what is right, I do my declaration in the spring on area not tonnage

I pay what is right

 

[Brisel]

I make my declarations every year and pay what is right, I do my declaration in the spring on area not tonnage

I pay what is right

I wasn't implying anything untoward, just navigating a fair and just route to paying royalty on the companion. Does that mean you pay the full rate on both/all?

 

[Clive]

I wasn't implying anything untoward, just navigating a fair and just route to paying royalty on the companion. Does that mean you pay the full rate on both/all?

I declare what area of crops I have that used farm saved seed - on the date of submission which answers their question

 

[E_B]

So is anybody actually going to do any companion cropping, with a view to claiming the £55/ha payment?

Presumably, if you don't join SFI until November, then you wouldn't need to worry about the logistics of companion cropping until next Autumn?

 

[Pigless]

Any ideas what might survive a pre em on wheat?
OSR volunteers may suffice on some but what else?
Is there anything or do we have to risk missing the pre em?

Did you ever get anywhere with pre em that will be ok for companion? Or companion that will be ok with pre em? I think beans will be ok , would like to try linseed but I think all pre Ems would hit it.

 

[redsloe]

Did you ever get anywhere with pre em that will be ok for companion? Or companion that will be ok with pre em? I think beans will be ok , would like to try linseed but I think all pre Ems would hit it.

No.
If I had beans in my shed and the autumn looked easier I might have spun some on and drilled into it and see what happens.

As it is its not particularly simple to get glysophate, fym and lime on atm!

 

[Clive]

So is anybody actually going to do any companion cropping, with a view to claiming the £55/ha payment?

Presumably, if you don't join SFI until November, then you wouldn't need to worry about the logistics of companion cropping until next Autumn?

no need to do it this autumn as you could still add it to your agreement and achieve the aim within 12 months

 

[redsloe]

no need to do it this autumn as you could still add it to your agreement and achieve the aim within 12 months

Not sure if you would get payment on it in the first year though. Another grey area.

 

[Pigless]

no need to do it this autumn as you could still add it to your agreement and achieve the aim within 12 months

I presume you still plant it for 3 seasons, it's just that the last planting is right at the end of your agreement? I was intending to do it as a cover crop with the wheat carried through

 

[Clive]

Not sure if you would get payment on it in the first year though. Another grey area.

yes you would is my understanding - you have 12 months from start date to achieve the aims but start being paid quarterly from your start date

i’m not the defra help line though so don’t quote me !

 

[Clive]

I presume you still plant it for 3 seasons, it's just that the last planting is right at the end of your agreement? I was intending to do it as a cover crop with the wheat carried through

in a 3 year agreement you would need to achieve the standards aim 3 times over. Area can vary however within min / max % margins i think though each year