2021 Autumn Seed Catalogue

30 COVER CROP - CATCH CROP OR GREEN MANURE IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR COVER CROPS PLEASE TALK TO OUR AGRONOMISTS AS FITTING THE RIGHT SPECIES TO YOUR FARM WILL DO YOUR SOILS FAR MORE GOOD THAN JUST COLLECTING BPS MONIES! GREEN COVER / CATCH AND COMPANION CROPS ‘Greening Requirements’ are no longer required for the Basic Payment Scheme. Therefore, the use of Catch/Cover Crops to help meet EFA (Ecological Focus Areas) requirements are not needed for the remaining years of the Basic Payment Scheme which will be phased out by the end of 2027. However, during the last ten years trials and on farm experience has shown that with good advice and management Green Cover / Catch and Companion crops can have many advantages. These include: There is a wide range of different plant species that can be used singularly or in mixes to achieve the best outcome for your farm business. There is a variation in rooting depth, weed suppression, winter hardiness, grazing benefits, nitrogen fixing, nematode benefits etc. Good crop husbandry is required to ensure that the cover crops compliment the crop rotation, livestock enterprises, do not provide a carryover of pests and does not compromise the establishment of the following crop. A strategy needs to be in place as to how and when the cover crop will be established and how and when to terminate the cover crop. Grazing, flailing, spraying off with Rondup or Kyleo, incorporating the residue or direct drilling etc. The soil and environmental benefits have been acknowledged by DEFRA, Water Companies and the Environment Agency. There are opportunities to earn revenue from Countryside Stewardship Options and Water Company Schemes that reward the improvement of soil health and reduction of soil erosion and leaching of nutrients. • Adding organic matter and improving soil health • Increasing biological activity and soil performance • Improving soil structure and ability to tolerate extremes in weather conditions • Reducing soil erosion and loss of soil and nutrients into water courses • Catching existing nutrients in the soil and preventing them from being leached (lost) from the soil over winter • Use of of legumes to fix nitrogen and reduce the requirements of artificial fertiliser for the following crop • Weed suppression and nematode reduction with some species • Companion crops to camouflage/distract pests from the principal crop e.g. CSFB (Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle) and OSR