SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE – PILOT STARTING 2021 – WATER BODY BUFFERING STANDARD

AIM 1: DO A RUNOFF AND SOIL EROSION RISK ASSESSMENT
Introductory Level (£16 per hectare) Intermediate Level (£29 per hectare) – All actions in Introductory level plus Advanced Level (£34 per hectare) – All actions in Introductory and Intermediate levels plus
1. Identify where to put grass buffer strips by doing a run-off and soil risk assessment. 

  • Prioritise the higher risk areas when deciding where to put the buffers. 

Advice:  

1. Same as Introductory level

 

1.  Same as Introductory level

 

 

AIM 2: ESTABLISH GRASS BUFFER STRIPS
Introductory Level  Intermediate Level  Advanced Level 
1. Establish grass buffer strips

  • The grass buffer strips will protect water bodies from pollutants carried in field run-off. 
  • Establish and maintain 6m wide water body grass buffer strips next to at least 50% of the total length of water bodies in the agreement. 

These measurements include the 2m cross-compliance buffer. 

The location of the buffers will be informed by the soil and runoff assessment, and should complement field-scale actions to reduce soil compaction and runoff at source. 

On the buffer strips you must not: 

  • apply any fertilisers or manures 
  • use pesticides, except for herbicides 
  • drive on margins, or use margins as tracks – access for essential maintenance should be planned to cause minimal disturbance to the margin 
  • allow livestock on to the strip
 1. Establish grass buffer strips

  • 6m wide buffer strips on at least 20% of the total length of water bodies in the agreement 
  • Put 6m grass buffers in fields where there is low to moderate risk of soil erosion or run-off. 

Advice: 

 1. Establish grass buffer strips

  • 10m wide buffer strips on at least 30% of the total length of water bodies in the agreement 
  • Put 10m buffers next to water bodies in high-risk locations, where there is greater upslope pollution pressure and a wider buffer is needed to slow run-off water. 

2. Add a wildflower mix to at least 20% of the total length of water body grass buffers  

Advice: 

 

(OPTIONAL) ESTABLISH IN-FIELD GRASS STRIPS OR BLOCKS ON CULTIVATED LAND 
All levels
Do this where additional in-field measures are needed to intercept run-off water. 

  • You’ll be paid an additional £0.05 per square metre per year. 

Advice: 

 

Eligible land: 

You can apply the standard to arable and intensive grassland next to: 

  • ponds or lakes 
  • rivers 
  • streams 
  • canals 
  • field ditches, including temporarily dry watercourses 

You cannot use it on: 

  • coastal waters 
  • estuaries 
  • sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) 
  • ponds associated with industrial features such as effluent ponds, balancing ponds or small water supply reservoirs 

Where only one side of a water body is part of the agreement, you should enter half of the total length in the agreement. 

Funding for Capital Items 

Additional standards you can apply: 

 

These notes, prepared on the 09.07.2021, are only to be used as a part of a wider discussion/decision-making process undertaken with Townsend Chartered Surveyors also giving accompanying advice. TCS cannot be held responsible for their use other than in this context or for any resulting misunderstanding or damages. As a pilot the payment values and actions required may be subject to change as Defra develops the scheme.