Ploughing and cross compliance

Cross Compliance requires that land is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition.  This includes preventing soil and soil nutrient run-off into waterways.  Cross Compliance permits ploughing and cultivations during the winter providing finely tilled seedbeds are not left.

Managing soil to reduce the risk of erosion and compaction can improve crop quality and yield, as well as reducing the risk of damage to the environment.  

Green cover, either grass or stubble is the best way to prevent soil erosion and loss of nutrients.  Winter stubbles also benefit a range of farmland birds such as the Skylark, Linnet and Yellowhammer.  Agri-environment schemes such as the Countryside Management Scheme and the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme reward farmers for retaining winter stubble.  

After harvest if winter stubble is not to be retained the land should be sown with a crop or the surface left ploughed or disced to encourage the infiltration of rain.  Plan cultivations to minimise the periods when the soil is left in its most vulnerable condition.  Residues of crops harvested late, such as maize and potatoes must be left undisturbed until just before sowing the following spring.  

Where grass leys are grown in rotation with arable crops, sow the first crop as soon as possible after the grass has been ploughed to minimize the loss of nitrogen.  

For further information on soil management or any aspect of Environmental Cross Compliance contact Countryside Management Branch staff at your local DARD office.