OP2: Wild bird seed mixture
What is OP2?
OP2 is an action under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. It pays £787.00 per year for wild bird seed mixture.
What do I need to do?
* Establish a seed mix with at least 6 small seed-bearing crops (not maize) in blocks or strips of at least 6m wide and between 0.4ha and 5ha in size.
* Ensure plants grow, flower, and set seed by autumn to provide food until mid-February.
* Do not allow an individual crop group to exceed 90% of the total mix by weight.
* Do not sow prohibited crops including artichokes, canary grass, giant and intermediate sorghum, maize, miscanthus, sweet clover, or tic beans.
What evidence do I need?
Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.
Seed invoices
Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
* A valid organic certificate and for all the parcels entered into this option at application and on your annual claim – the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will not request this information if you have already supplied it for a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claim
Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.
How much does OP2 pay?
OP2 pays £787.00 per year.
Which land is eligible?
It’s available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier, on whole or part parcels in rotation on: land registered as organic or ‘in conversion’ with a Defra-licensed organic control body land that has been sown to grass for fewer than 7 years
Related links
This information is provided by Farmwalk based on published government guidance. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.