SW8: Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse
What is SW8?
SW8 is an action under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. It pays £311 per year for management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse.
What do I need to do?
* Do not use pesticides , except for weed wiping or spot treating injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles, or bracken.
* Do not apply any manure or fertiliser between 15 August and 1 February.
* Limit livestock manures to no more than 100kg of total nitrogen per hectare per year. If not using livestock manures, limit nitrogen fertiliser to no more than 50kg per hectare per year.
What evidence do I need?
You must send the following with your application.
Written support from a CSF officer
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.
Field operations at parcel level, including associated invoices
* Stock records to show grazing activity on each parcel
How much does SW8 pay?
SW8 pays £311 per year.
Which land is eligible?
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole parcels on grassland that meets each of the following requirements. Sloping fields that drain directly into a watercourse It receives more than 200 kilograms (kg) per ha of nitrogen per year * It is identified on the Farm Environment Record (FER) as at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff, or has been identified as important for buffering sensitive habitats You must have support from a Catchment Sensitive Farming
Related links
This information is provided by Farmwalk based on published government guidance. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.