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GS15

Haymaking supplement

Countryside Stewardship open_in_new View on RPA Website

£157.00

per hectare · yearly

info Summary

This Countryside Stewardship supplement, paid at £157 per hectare, supports the continuation or reintroduction of haymaking on fields managed under specific base options like traditional orchards or species-rich grasslands. It aims to promote wildflower and grass growth for biodiversity, requiring adherence to specific cutting dates and grazing management to achieve environmental benefits.

format_list_bulleted What to do

  • Do not cut hay before 5 July (outside SDAs) or 15 July (in SDAs).
  • Do not cut haylage before 1 August.
  • Do not graze meadows for at least 7 weeks before cutting.
  • Cut and remove unwrapped field-dried hay or haylage every year.
  • Exclude livestock for at least 7 weeks before cutting (by 7 May at the latest) where spring grazing is traditional.
  • Graze the aftermath sward, preferably with cattle, aiming for an average sward height of no more than 8cm by the end of the grazing season.

schedule When to do

  • Do not cut hay before 5 July (outside SDAs) or 15 July (in SDAs).
  • Do not cut haylage before 1 August.
  • Exclude livestock for at least 7 weeks before cutting and by 7 May at the latest for spring grazing.
  • Graze aftermath sward to an average sward height of no more than 8cm by the end of the grazing season.

checklist How to do

  • Cut and remove unwrapped field-dried hay or haylage every year.
  • Where spring grazing is traditional, exclude livestock for at least 7 weeks before cutting and by 7 May at the latest.
  • If making haylage, cut after 1 August, turn the swath at least once, and wilt for at least 48 hours.
  • Graze the aftermath sward, preferably with cattle, aiming for an average sward height of no more than 8cm by the end of the grazing season.

description Evidence Required

Where there’s uncertainty about whether or not the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept to demonstrate delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the instructions set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
  • Any sites grazed will require a grazing activity record

At the start of each claim year, a percentage of agreement holders will be asked to take and submit the following photographic records.

  • Photographs of the management undertaken

tips_and_updates Additional Advice

  • This supplement supports the continuation or reintroduction of haymaking on fields cut for hay.
  • It can help offset high haymaking costs, such as those from buying machinery or livestock, or due to long distances to hay barns.

View Official Guidelines

Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website

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info Additional Information

GS15: Haymaking supplement

How much will be paid

£157 per hectare (ha).

Where to use this supplement

Related Mid Tier supplements

This supplement can be located on the same area as the following supplements.

How this supplement will benefit the environment

To ensure the continuation, or reintroduction, of haymaking on fields which are, or were, cut for hay each year. It allows a crop of herb-rich hay to be grown and harvested, which will lead to wildflowers and grasses blossoming and setting seed. This will help to conserve many of the plants in the meadow and provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects.

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.

During the spring and summer wildflowers and grasses will grow. These will be cut to make field-dried, unwrapped hay or haylage in late summer. After cutting, the sward will be managed by grazing.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:

  • cut hay before 5 July (outside SDA’s) or 15 July (in SDA’s)
  • cut haylage before 1 August
  • graze meadows for at least 7 weeks before cutting.

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

Recommended management

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you use best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • cut and remove unwrapped field-dried hay or haylage every year
  • where spring grazing of meadows is a traditional practice, exclude livestock for at least 7 weeks before cutting and by 7 May at the latest
  • if haylage is made, cut after 1 August
  • if haylage is made, turn the swath at least once and wilt for at least 48 hours
  • graze the aftermath sward, preferably with cattle, aiming for an average sward height of no more than 8 centimetres (cm) by the end of the grazing season

Keeping records

Where there’s uncertainty about whether or not the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept to demonstrate delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the instructions set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
  • Any sites grazed will require a grazing activity record

At the start of each claim year, a percentage of agreement holders will be asked to take and submit the following photographic records.

  • Photographs of the management undertaken

Additional guidance and advice

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

Cost of haymaking

This supplement is normally available for one of the following:

  • to ensure the continuation, or reintroduction, of haymaking on fields which are, or were, cut for hay each year
  • if the cost of haymaking is particularly high, for example: if buying machinery or livestock would lead to additional costs for making or storing hay
  • if there are long distances between the meadows and the hay barn

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. *[SDA]: Severely Disadvantaged Area

Questions about GS15?

Ask Tom anything about this subsidy, eligibility, evidence requirements, or compatibility with other actions.