PRF4

You must use a mechanical robotic weeder to control weeds on one cash crop from sowing to harvest. You can use residual herbicides pre-emergence, but no other herbicides are permitted during the crop's growth.

This action must be performed on at least one crop sown during each of the three years of the agreement. If a crop is already present at the start, a new crop for the action must be sown within 12 months.

You are required to follow all the rules identified by the word 'must'.

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

• data from the tractor’s job recording system identifying the mechanical robotic weeder, the date and areas weeded
• field operations at a land parcel level, including the land parcel reference number and the dates the crop was sown and harvested
• contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.

The mechanical robotic weeding equipment can be tractor-mounted or autonomous, and funding may be available through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).