OT3: Organic land management - rotational land

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the organic land management - rotational land option.

How much will be paid

£132 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.

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 followed 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.

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 their annual claim
  • 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 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 23 August 2023 + show all updates
  1. Can be used on rotational land

  2. Removed 'Rotational' from 'Where to use this option'

  3. Organic evidence is no longer required for BPS

  4. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  5. OT3 option updated

  6. Updated for 2017 applications.

  7. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  8. First published.