The fallow land measure in GLAS III aims to provide food and habitat for ground-nesting birds, other fauna and insects throughout the nesting season. It is a traditional practice that is not as popular as it used to be due to changes in arable production and technological improvements. But it is beneficial for biodiversity.

Requirements

1. Establish a fallow area through sowing a grass seed mix containing at least 60% Cocksfoot or Timothy or a combination of these at the rate of 25kg to 30kg/ha by 31 May 2017. Grass seed labels and receipts must be kept for the duration of the GLAS contract.

2. The minimum area is 0.25ha and the maximum area for payment is 3ha.

3. The action can be delivered on full or split LPIS parcels. Where the action is on a split parcel, it must be digitised out and marked on the map submitted.

4. Pre-sowing weed control can be used. However, after the crop is sown, the use of pesticides is not permitted, except for the spot treatment of noxious and invasive weeds.

5. Use of fertilisers (chemical or organic) is not permitted.

6. The parcel must be mulched or mown at least once a year, but not between March 1 and September 1 annually. Off takes are not allowed.

7. The parcel must be fenced off and stockproof and grazing by livestock is not permitted. Where a parcel is split, a suitable fence must be in place to prevent livestock from entering the fallow land.

8. The fallow parcel cannot be used as a storage area for any materials (for example straw bales, big-baled silage, farm yard manure, etc).

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