CNUM2: Legumes on improved grassland
What you must do to get paid for this action and advice on how to do it.
This is an action in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme: expanded offer for 2024. You must read the SFI scheme information to understand the scheme rules and how to apply.
Duration
3 years
How much you’ll be paid
£102 per hectare (ha) per year
Action’s aim
This action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.
The purpose of this is to:
- manage nutrient efficiency
- protect the soil surface
- provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and minimise nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
- support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
Where you can do this action
You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:
- an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information)
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Eligible land
| Eligible land type | Eligible land cover | Compatible land use code |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary grassland | Arable land | TG01 |
| Improved permanent grassland | Permanent grassland | PG01 |
Eligibility of protected land
| Protected land | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) | Eligible – you must get SSSI consent before you do this action (read section 10.3 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI scheme information to find out how to do this) |
| Historic and archaeological features | Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible. |
Available area you can enter into this action
Total or part of the available area in a land parcel.
Rotational or static action
This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:
- move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
- do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration
What to do
You must establish and maintain legumes on improved grassland entered into this action.
You can use one or more type of legume, such as:
- red clover
- white clover
- alsike clover
- sainfoin
- lucerne
- bird’s foot trefoil
You can establish the legumes by:
- adding them to an existing grass sward
- sowing a mix of grass and legumes
Once established, you must maintain the legumes. To do this, you must manage them in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You can maintain existing areas of legumes on improved grassland to get paid this action if they:
- meet this action’s requirements
- are not already being for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as (Countryside Stewardship (CS) option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)
When to do it
If you’re doing this action on the same area of land for this action’s 3-year duration, you must:
- establish the legumes within 12 months of this action’s start date
- maintain the area of legumes in each subsequent year of this action’s duration
If you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
How to do it
It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
- follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
- do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
Evidence to keep
You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:
- field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
- photographs or other documentation
If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.
Other actions or options you can do with this action
You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action. Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read ‘What to do’ and ‘When to do it’ to find out when this action must be done.
| Scheme | Action or option codes |
|---|---|
| SFI 2024 actions | OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, AGF1, AGF2, PRF1, PRF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1 |
| SFI 2023 actions | IPM1, NUM1, SAM1 |
| CS options | OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3 |
| ES options | No ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot standards | No area-based SFI pilot standards |
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6. ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
- SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
- SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3
- CS option BE3 (management of hedgerows)
- the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard
Advice to help you do this action
The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
Choosing a seed mix
Sainfoin, lucerne and alsike clover are more suited to grassland that you cut.
Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
Where to sow the seed mix
It can help to sow the seed mix where you want to reduce fertiliser use.
To help you plan where and how to do this action, you may find it helpful to do CNUM1 (assess nutrient management and produce a review report).
Nitrogen fixation from the legumes will reduce if the soil phosphate and pH are not at optimal levels.
Spreading the legume areas across the farm can help to provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.
How and when to sow the seed mix
Your seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.
You can sow the seed mix shallowly into a firm seedbed or overseed into an established grass sward.
Sowing the seed mix in March or April can help germination.
Alternatively, you can sow after a silage cut, as the grassland is likely to be more open. You may get better results after the second silage cut (or late hay cut), as the regrowth is less vigorous.
Legumes sowed after August may not establish before the winter.
During establishment of the legumes
It’s advisable to keep livestock off the areas of legumes while the seedlings establish. This will prevent new grasses or legumes being grazed out.
Maintaining established legumes
Once the legumes are established, you can cut them or graze them with livestock providing you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This will help to reduce competition from existing plants.
You may find it helpful to read Farm Wildlife’s advice on rotational legume and herb-rich swards for livestock farming. This includes guidance on how you could manage the legume areas under ‘ongoing management’.
Updates to this page
Published 21 May 2024Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates
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Where you can do this action - an eligible land type is defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information. Eligibility of protected land - updated link to section 10.3 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI scheme information. You can apply for this action on the area in a land parcel that does not contain an historic or archaeological feature. Published voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements.
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First published.