OT6: Organic land management - enclosed rough grazing

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the organic land management - enclosed rough grazing option.

How much will be paid

£97 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier

Whole parcel

Only on:

  • land registered as ‘in conversion’ or ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
  • rough grazing in enclosed parcels that are:
    • less than 15ha
    • within a severely disadvantaged area (SDA)
    • above the moorland line

Where this option cannot be used

  • On the same area as any other organic land management or conversion option

The following options can be located on the same area as this option.

How this option will benefit the environment

Maintains organic management of enclosed rough grazing parcels no greater than 15ha within the SDA and above the moorland line. This creates a wide range of environmental and public goods.

If successful applicants should see these benefits increase and organic management maintained.

Aims

If you’re 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.

Organic standards will be adhered to for the duration of the agreement. For land in conversion, comply with organic standards from the start of organic conversion to the end of the agreement.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits across the whole parcel, 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.

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 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.

  • A valid organic certificate and schedule for all the parcels entered into this option at application and on your annual claim
  • For any land in conversion, either a copy of the conversion plan agreed with the organic control body or a fully completed viability plan

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 Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Update to How Much Is Paid

  2. amendment to Prohibited activities section

  3. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  4. OT6 option updated

  5. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  6. First published.