OFA1 is a popular choice for organic farmers under SFI. Leaving stubble over winter improves soil structure, provides food for birds, and supports biodiversity. But as always with DEFRA schemes, the rules and evidence requirements can feel like a minefield.
Let’s break it down.
What is OFA1 in SFI?
OFA1 is the action for leaving overwinter stubble on organic land without cropping. Farmers maintain stubble through the winter months to deliver environmental benefits, especially for seed-eating birds and soil health.
- Builds soil organic matter.
- Increases biodiversity across fields.
- Supports natural pest control.
📌 JustFarm makes this simple: you can tag organic fields in your dashboard, highlight which ones are set aside for OFA1, and track compliance without juggling maps and DEFRA guidance.
What are the Payments and Requirements?
Farmers are paid a set amount per hectare of overwinter stubble left in place, with eligibility limited to organic-certified land. Requirements often include:
- No cultivation until after the specified overwinter period.
- Stubble must remain unploughed until spring.
- Clear distinction between cropped and non-cropped land.
💡 With JustFarm, all of this sits in one place. Your dashboard shows:
- Eligible organic fields.
- Which subsidies are applied.
- What actions are required, when, and how to stay compliant.
No need to flip between spreadsheets and government PDFs.
Proving Compliance with OFA1
To stay inspection-ready, you need to record and retain evidence such as:
- Field maps marking organic parcels.
- Photos showing stubble presence over winter.
- Dates of establishment and ploughing.
- Organic certification linked to land parcels.
📸 JustFarm turns evidence collection into routine.
- Upload stubble photos straight from the field app.
- Log ploughing dates instantly.
- Store organic certificates alongside the field record.
When inspection time comes, JustFarm produces audit-ready reports at the click of a button.
Why OFA1 Matters
OFA1 is more than a payment — it’s a vital tool for organic farms balancing food production with soil and habitat health. But as DEFRA rules shift and inspections tighten, farmers need confidence that their records will hold up.
Take Action
Sign up for JustFarm today to make OFA1 and all your SFI actions audit-ready. With clear field tagging, evidence capture, and instant reporting, you’ll never lose track of requirements or deadlines again.