OR5: Organic conversion - top fruit

How much will be paid

£1,920 per hectare (ha) per year, for up to 3 years.

Where to use this option

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole parcels on:

• land registered as ‘in conversion’ with a Defra-licensed organic control body
• parcels that are managed primarily for the production of top fruit (such as apples, pears and plums) and permanent bush crops (such as gooseberries and redcurrants)
• orchards fully stocked at the appropriate spacing for the species and variety of fruit tree or bush

Where this option cannot be used

• On parcels that you have previously registered with an organic control body
• On parcels for which you have previously received conversion aid
• On orchards that are used for the production of alcoholic drinks
• On orchards that are not in commercial production

Related Mid Tier options

The Organic management, top fruit option (OT5), should follow on from this option when the organic conversion period is completed. Other Countryside Stewardship options and supplements relevant to orchard management may be used on the same land area where eligibility rules allow.

How this option will benefit the environment

Helps recently planted and traditional standard orchards (and permanent fruit or berry bushes) convert to organic management. If successful there will be an increase in the overall land area registered as organic, providing a range of environmental and public benefits.

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.

All trees will be protected from damage, including by animals. Newly planted trees will have a 1 metre (m) diameter circle around the base clear of vegetation for 3 years after planting.

Using the Conversion plan as agreed with an organic control body, for the land and associated stock, Organic standards will be followed from the start of organic conversion to the end of the agreement.

All land will complete conversion and be registered as ‘fully organic’ before the end of the agreement.

Prohibited activities

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

• None

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:

• protect trees to prevent damage from livestock and wild animals
• manage tree guards to prevent any damage to growing trees

Keeping records

Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

• A conversion map showing the planting spacing and species within the orchard – you can mark this on any map including the Farm Environment Record (FER)
• Copies of fruit sale receipts to show that the orchards are in commercial production and not used for the production of alcoholic drinks
• Either a copy of the conversion plan agreed with the organic control body or, if not available, a fully completed viability plan
• Photographs of the trees entered into this option
• A valid organic certificate and schedule for all the parcels entered into this option.

Additional guidance and advice

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

Permanent ineligible features may be eligible as part of the option area if registered with a control body.

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.