Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields. When coupled with appropriate upland treatments, including crop residue management, nutrient management, integrated pest management, winter cover crops, and similar management practices and technologies, buffer strips should allow farmers to achieve a measure of economic and environmental sustainability in their operations. Buffer strips can also enhance wildlife habitat and protect biodiversity.
Under new EU regulations, known as greening, farmers must ensure 5 per cent of their land is set aside as an Ecological Focus Area (EFA), instead of being used for farming.
To ensure that farmers are able to continue their essential work of growing food, improving the environment and boosting the rural economy, Defra has chosen a package of options which give farmers flexibility over how they comply with the rules.
Farmers will be able to choose how to meet the EFA requirement from a list which includes land lying fallow, buffer strips, ‘catch and cover crops’ used to manage soil fertility and quality, Nitrogen Fixing Crops such as legumes and hedgerows.
Organic Mixtures available.
£21.00
This mixture helps create floristically enhanced field margins providing cover for a wide range of species including nesting birds, insects and small mammals. 85% Species Rich Grass 15% Species Rich Wild...
£16.00
This mixture helps create floristically enhanced field margins providing cover for a wide range of species including nesting birds, insects and small mammals. 90% Species Rich Grass 10% Species Rich Wild...
£12.55
This mixture helps create floristically enhanced field margins providing cover for a wide range of species including nesting birds, insects and small mammals. 95% Species Rich Grass 5% Species Rich Wild...
£3.80
BGM with red clover and cocksfoot. 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Tmothy 20% Tall Fescue 15% Cocksfoot 5% Red Clover Average Sowing Rate: 50kg/ ac (20kg/ ha)
£3.70
BGM with cocksfoot. 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Cocksfoot 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue Average Sowing Rate: 50kg/ ac (20kg/ ha)
£3.60
BGM with cocksfoot. 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Chewings Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue Average Sowing Rate: 50kg/ ac (20kg/ ha)
£3.75
BGM with cocksfoot. 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Chewings Fescue 15% Tall Fescue 5% Red Clover Average Sowing Rate: 50kg/ ac (20kg/ ha)
£4.10
BGM with cocksfoot. 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Chewings Fescue 15% Tall Fescue 5% Red Clover Average Sowing Rate: 50kg/ ac (20kg/ ha)
£5.75
BGM with cocksfoot. (N) - Native Seed 25% Chewings Fescue 15% Slender Red Fescue 15% Creeping Red Fescue 15% Hard Fescue 10% SSMG 5% Browntop Bent 5% Crested Dogstail 5% Sainfoin...
£7.40
Organic nectar flower mixture. 32.5% Organic Early English Winter Vetch 27.5% Organic Lucerne (inoculated) 18% Sainfoin 10% Organic Red CLover 6% Birdsfoot Trefoil 6% Alsike Clover Average Sowing Rate: 25-37kg/ ac...
£3.95
Species Rich Grass (SRG) 20% SSMG 20% Red Fescue 20% Meadow Fescue 20% Browntop Bent 10% Sheeps Fescue 10% Hard Fescue Average Sowing Rate: 37-49kg/ ac (15-20kg/ ha)
£112.50
Species Rich Wild Flowers (SRWF) - (N) - Native 15% Black Medick (N) 15% Black Knapweed (N) 10% Self Heal (N) 10% Ribwort Plantain (N) 7.5% Ox-eye Daisy (N) 7.5%...