Forage Seed 2017
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Environmental schemes
Wild Bird Cover
Wild Bird Cover is a spring-sown crop that is left un-harvested over winter to
provide food for farmland birds.
• Maximum area for payment is 3 Ha
• Establish wild bird cover by 31st May
• Crop must remain in situ until 15th March the following year
• In the year which parcel is being fully replanted, livestock may enter parcel
from 15th March
• Fertilizer can be applied at a maximum of half rate for a cereal crop.
• If broadcasting, increase seeding rate by one–third and roll immediately
post sowing
• There is a 1 year and a 2 year option
One year option
Fig 20.
One year option:
• Must use a cereal e.g. oats, triticale, wheat or barley
• Must be re-sown each year while in the scheme
Seed options
Seed Rate where drilled*
Cereal and Linseed
(Cereal can be oats, wheat, barley or triticale)
75 kg/ha cereal and 15 kg/ha of linseed
Cereal and Mustard
(Cereal can be oats, wheat, barley or triticale)
75kg/ha Cereal and 10 kg/ha of mustard
* Increase seeding rate by one-third if broadcasting
Two year option
Fig 21.
Two year option:
• Must contain kale and a cereal (Wheat/Barley/Oats/Triticale)
• Seed cannot be mixed
• Half plot to be sown with kale, other half with cereal
Year Sowing guidelines
Seed rate where drilled*
1 Establish half the plot with cereal and half with kale 75 kg/ 0.5 ha cereal
and 3 kg/ 0.5ha of kale
75 kg/ 0.5 ha of cereal
2
Kale remains in situ, re-establish cereal in half of plot
3
Re-establish half of plot as kale and half as cereal
75 kg/ 0.5 ha cereal
and 3 kg/ 0.5 ha of kale
75 kg/ 0.5 ha of cereal
4
Kale remains in situ, re-establish cereal in half of plot
5
Re-establish half of plot as kale and half as cereal
* Increase seeding rate by one-third if broadcasting
75 kg/ 0.5 ha cereal
and 3 kg/ 0.5 ha of kale