RP31: Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas

How much you’llwill be paid paid

£1,500 per machine.

HowWhere thisto itemuse benefitsthis the environmentitem

ThisIt itemis supportsavailable thefor purchaseCountryside ofStewardship equipmentHigher whichTier, loosensMid soilTier compactedand inCapital wheeledGrants tramlines.only:

It will helps reduce:

• surfacewith runoff
• the risksupport of soil erosion damage
• water pollution

This item can help you protect, recover and improveapproval biodiversity.

Where you can use this item 

You can only use this item with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF):

• on farms with crops or fieldsfields, that are identified as at risk of soil erosion in yourthe Farm Environment Record (FER)(FER)
• to purchase one piece of equipment

How this item will benefit the environment

CatchmentIt Sensitivewill Farmingsupport providesthe advicepurchase whereof thereequipment arethat watercan qualityloosen orsoil floodthat riskhas issuescompacted linkedin towheeled farming. 

tramlines. This grantwill allowshelp thereduce purchasesurface runoff, risk of onesoil pieceerosion ofdamage equipment.and water pollution.

WhatRequirements

You youmust:

• send mustthe dowritten tosupport useand thisapproval item

  Youfrom mustCSF with your application

• purchase a spiked harrow,or rotary harrowharrow, or tine device that can have a direct loosening effect on compacted soil in the wheeled tramline area.

Make sure the device is built to attach directly to one of the following:

• a tractor
• a sprayer being towed behind a tractor
• a self-propelled sprayer

Evidence

Keeping you must keep 

records

You must keep writtenthe supportfollowing fromrecords your Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser and providesupply thisthem with yourthe application.

You must also keep and provide with your claim:

• photographs of the purchased equipment
• a delivery note with the serial number for the equipment

ReadPlease see the record keeping and siteinspection visit requirements inas theset Agreementout holder’sin guide:the Capital Grants, Higher Tier, capitalMid grantsTier or andCapital Protection and Infrastructure grantsGrants guidance for more information.detail.

Advice toand helpsuggestions youfor usehow to carry out this item

The following advice mayis helphelpful, you to use this item, but youthey doare not haverequirements tofor follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.   item.

PickingPick a location

Areas most likely to benefit from this item include:

• fields that are connected to bodies of water at risk of failing water framework directive requirements due to diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA)
• designated sites that are failing their condition assessment due to DWPA
• fields that are at risk of soil erosion erosion:
  • as identified in yourthe FER, FER
  • where slopes are complex or are inclined at more than 3 degrees

YouSeek can get advice from an agronomist or farm adviser who holds a BritishBASIS Agrochemical Supply Industry Scheme (BASIS) soil and water management certificatecertificate, (oror equivalent).equivalent.

You can find more information from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board on sustainable soil husbandry and the identification of soil erosion issues.

Choose the right equipment

Choose a device that:device:

• that has a direct loosening effect on compacted soil within the wheeled tramline area, which will improve surface infiltration and increase surface roughness
• that creates diagonally offset holes (‘pock marks’) to infiltrate the topsoil to a depth of between 7.5 centimetres (cm) and 16.5cm

Where you select a rotary harrow, check the wheel isshould be rimmed with spikes that are offset to each other and are at a right angle to the direction of travel.

UsingHow to use the equipment

UseThe theequipment equipment:should be used:

• with correctly inflated tyres to reduce tyre compaction within the tramline area
• when machinery passes over the soil for the first time or soon afterafter, (suchsuch as during the first spray operation)operation

UsingUse this item with other measures

UseThis this item should be used with other measures that reduce soil erosion and water runoffrunoff. including:These items and options include:

• in-field grass areas
• double headlands to disconnect water pathways

Biodiversity

This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

You can find more information on sustainable soil husbandry and the identification of soil erosion issues online .

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) provides farmers with free advice and training on improving water and air quality and natural flood management. See guidance for further information on CSF support.

Read more information about Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Mid Tier or Capital Grants to find out more about the scheme and how to apply.