Farm grants for birdfeeders!

[captain nodge]

Whilst listening to Farming Today this morning, there was a really interesting
bit about grants available for providing birds with food during the bad weather, this particular farm was up in yorkshire and the lady was saying that it was so much per hectare, does anyone here know about this,
not that im a landowner mind, just thought that it would be of interest to someone here

[Johnny Redgate]

They were probably talking about sowing wild bird seed mixtures as an option under Environmental Stewardship - a agri-environment scheme for landowners/farmers. The species recommended are small-seed bearing crops including barley, triticale, kale, quinoa, linseed, millet, mustard, fodder radish and sunflower.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by captain nodge

Whilst listening to Farming Today this morning, there was a really interesting
bit about grants available for providing birds with food during the bad weather, this particular farm was up in yorkshire and the lady was saying that it was so much per hectare, does anyone here know about this,
not that im a landowner mind, just thought that it would be of interest to someone here

As Johnny says probably ref. to the Defra scheme - the part particularly relating to arable farming and provision of bird food year round, of which farm holders must subscribe to if they want the grants - even then, I believe they need to establish that certain species are breeding on or near their land in order to qualify - if you feel like wading through this lot:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/do...fo-apply04.pdf

Wildlife seed mixture
Code WM1 £510/ha
A mixture of seed-bearing crops is established in areas
that are managed throughout your agreement to
provide a succession of food sources for wild birds.
The areas should be established and managed
as follows:
 Sow mixtures of suitable seed-bearing crops in
field margin strips at least six metres wide, and/or
in blocks which are usually less than one hectare,
within arable fields
During the first year of the agreement, sow a
mixture of at least three seed-bearing crops (e.g.
cereal, kale and quinoa). The seed mixture detailed
below is suitable as a wild bird seed mixture in
most areas, and should be sown at a seed rate of
35–50 kg/ha. Seed treatment to control seedling
pests and diseases is permitted where essential for
successful establishment.
The area must be managed throughout the course
of the agreement to provide a continuing supply
of food for seed-eating birds. The mixture should
normally be expected to require re-establishment
at least every other year in order to retain
a productive seed mixture.

[danthekeeper]

On this estate we grow 240 acres of wm1 of which my employer privately funds 190 acres the mixture we use is,

80% triticale grown in house
4% pulsar kale/rape hybrid
6% millet
2% quinoa
4% linseed
4% sweet clover,as we are organic we use this to refix nitrogen

the total seed rate for this mix is 50kg per acre

[captain nodge]

ok,just shows how easy it is to misunderstand things,
do any you guys use the scheme then or is it just too much hassle,

Dont know if you heard fridays episode, but i really felt for the Scottish sheep farmer having to get to his herd,

[captain nodge]

Just re read posts, duurr
i got it now, that and having listened to it again,
so danthekeeper you plant 50 acres of the approprate seed crops then?

[danthekeeper]

The mix I quoted actually fufills the criteria for for organic status as well as WM1
we claim the grant for 50 acres and plant a further 190 acres to act as cover for both the pheasants and the wild birds we believe that it is better to provide the WM1 mix across the entire estate than plant Crops such as kale which provide little benefit to the wild bird population

[captain nodge]

And does this apply to the whole of the uk,? what i didnt understand was, how do the birds feed on seeds ect when theres snow on the ground, are the sunflower seed heads still intact on their stalks or do you have to offer the mixture out to them daily onto a large birdtable?

[danthekeeper]

Sorry I didn't explain properly the seeds are not harvested the plants are left for up to 2 years depending on the establishment and uptake of the seed bearing content of the mix. even with snow on the ground the birds are still able to access some of the seed as triticale is pretty resilient and the kale helps the crop stand as well.
In effect we have 240 acres of self service bird feed

I believe all of the uk is eligible so long as you meet the requirements of the grant

[fluff11]

Here in wiltshire we ofton go past fields where the farmer has sown wild weed/flower mixtures,one field on a byway has a huge strip seeded with millet,the wild birds that we see feeding on it is very impresive!