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OT4: Organic land management - horticulture

Natural England

July 15
08:28 2022

How much will be paid

380 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier and Higher Tier

Whole or part-parcel

Rotational

Only on:

  • land registered as fully organic by a Defra-licensed organic control body
  • land parcels that have been cultivated in the preceding 7 years

Other Countryside Stewardship options and supplements relevant to arable and rotational land management may be used on the same land area where eligibility rules allow.

How this option will benefit the environment

Maintains land under organic management, providing a wide range of environmental and public benefits.

If successful you should see these benefits increase and the organic area maintained.

Aims

If youre selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.

There will be at least 1 horticultural crop in each field parcel. There will be a maximum area of 20ha of this option in the agreement.

During the rotation at least 40% of the area entered for this option will be in horticultural production.

Organic standards will be adhered to for the duration of the agreement.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.

  • None

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you use best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • maintain the total hectarage (area) that was committed to at the beginning of the agreement for the whole of the agreement
  • keep at least 40% of the area entered for this option in horticultural production with produce for human consumption at any single stage of the rotation

Keeping records

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 youve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. Its your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • A valid organic certificate and schedule for all the parcels entered into this option at application and on their annual claim
  • An up-to-date conversion plan approved by an organic control body
  • Farm records to show that any permanent grassland parcels entered for this option have been cultivated within the previous 7 years

Additional guidance and advice

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

Permanent ineligible features may be eligible as part of the option area if registered with a control body.

Further information

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

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 15 July 2022 +show all updates
  1. Organic evidence is no longer required for BPS

  2. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  3. OT4 option updated

  4. Updated for 2017 applications.

  5. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  6. First published.

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