Enhanced Overwinter Stubble (AHW7) is one of the most popular SFI options, but like all actions under the scheme, it comes with rules, deadlines, and evidence requirements that can easily become overwhelming. Farmers want the benefits for soil health and wildlife, but struggle with DEFRA’s complex guidance.
That’s where JustFarm comes in, the platform that shows you exactly what AHW7 requires on your land, what evidence you still need, and gives you confidence at inspection time.
What is AHW7 and what are its benefits?
AHW7 (Enhanced Overwinter Stubble) is designed to keep stubble and ground cover in place over winter to improve soil structure, support farmland birds, and reduce nutrient leaching. Farmers leave stubbles in the field after harvest, manage them lightly, and provide seed-rich feeding grounds for wildlife.
Benefits include:
- Reduced soil erosion and better water retention
- Higher biodiversity, especially for farmland birds and pollinators
- Improved soil organic matter for the next cropping cycle
📌 With JustFarm, AHW7 fields are automatically tagged in your digital maps. You’ll see clearly which fields are committed, what the expected benefits are, and how much progress you’ve made with your evidence uploads.
Who’s eligible for AHW7 and how do you apply?
Eligibility is open to farmers who can commit eligible arable or mixed land for the action. You must meet DEFRA’s baseline conditions and ensure the stubble is left for the specified overwinter period. Payment rates are set per hectare and updated in the SFI handbook.
The application process is done via the Rural Payments service. While this sounds simple, keeping track of which parcels you’ve entered, and what conditions apply, is where most of the stress begins.
📌 JustFarm removes this confusion by showing you — parcel by parcel — what subsidies are active. Click on a field, and the platform will display whether AHW7 is in place, what you need to do next, and when those deadlines fall.
What are the sowing periods and target species?
The key to AHW7 is the overwinter period itself. DEFRA guidance specifies when stubbles must remain in place and what minimal management can be applied. This ensures the ground is beneficial for seed-eating birds like skylarks, yellowhammers, and linnets.
In some cases, you may be required to sow additional cover or manage vegetation to maintain biodiversity through to spring.
📌 Instead of trying to remember dates or digging through PDFs, JustFarm keeps this simple: your dashboard shows sowing and management windows. Farmers can add field notes, upload photos of establishment, and know instantly if they’re on track for compliance.
What Evidence is Required for AHW7 Inspections?
- Maps showing which fields are in AHW7
- Seed invoices or cropping records where relevant
- Photos of stubble establishment and maintenance
- Dates of sowing, cutting, or any light cultivation done
DEFRA inspections rely heavily on well-kept, timely records. The challenge is not the activity itself, but keeping everything in order for when you’re asked to prove it.
📌 With JustFarm, evidence is no longer scattered. Farmers can:
- Upload seed invoices and field maps directly into the system
- Take and store photos from the field app with automatic timestamps
- Generate audit-ready reports at the click of a button
This turns the burden of evidence into a straightforward, everyday habit.
Why JustFarm is Essential for AHW7
The real problem with DEFRA’s SFI actions isn’t what they ask you to do — it’s the complexity of proving you’ve done it. AHW7 is a great action with environmental benefits, but the compliance load can feel disproportionate.
JustFarm gives you:
- A visual map of all your AHW7 fields
- Percentage progress trackers showing if you’ve uploaded enough evidence
- Reminders on sowing and maintenance windows via your dashboard
- Instant reports when you need them
Instead of worrying about inspections, you’ll know you’re always prepared.
Take Action
Enhanced Overwinter Stubble (AHW7) can deliver real gains for soil and biodiversity — but only if you manage compliance carefully. Don’t let paperwork or missed records cost you your payment.
👉 Sign up for JustFarm today to make AHW7 and all your SFI actions audit-ready, and never worry about missing evidence or deadlines again.