A recipe for success: Ensuring the Sustainable Farming Incentive restores biodiversity on farmland

Richard Winspear, Agricultural Advice Manager, sets out the key requirements of the SFI's role in supporting farmers to build sustainable farming systems in England that support nature, and proposes an SFI Farmland Biodiversity Standard based on the Farm Wildlife six key actions.

Evidence shows that when farmers manage a minimum of 10% of their land for nature, wildlife recovers. This can be achieved whilst maintaining and, in some cases, even increasing yields, as wildlife habitat can help to boost pollinators and other beneficial wildlife. This was clearly demonstrated in a study by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology published in 2015, where up to 8% of land could be taken out of production with no net loss of yield, and higher yields for one insect-pollinated crop.

With over 30 years of learning generated with farmers from previous iterations of agri-environment schemes and the expertise from a wide range of specialist wildlife conservation organisations, the constitution of the 10% habitats is also well understood. The Farm Wildlife Partnership of wildlife NGOs (www.farmwildlife.info) have developed the six key actions needed to restore biodiversity on farmland:

1. All semi-natural habitats on the farm, such as semi-natural grasslands, heathland or scrub are managed in good ecological condition to enhance the diversity and abundance of flowering plants and invertebrates.
2. All field boundaries and margins are managed for maximum wildlife gain, through buffering from agricultural inputs and rotational management that boosts the abundance of flowering of the shrubs and maintains a thick structure to hedges and tussocky grass margins.
3. At least 2% (preferably 4%) of the farmed land managed as flower-rich habitats, which can include any semi-natural grasslands on the farm, or 20% of the farmed land managed as legume/herb-rich leys.
4. On arable and mixed farms managing 2% of the farmed land as bird seed mixtures, or 10% of farmed land as weedy stubbles will support species dependent upon seed food. On pastoral farms letting small areas go to seed can provide valuable resources.
5. At least one permanent or seasonal pond per 100 ha of farmland (ideally one feature per 40 ha) managed to ensure high water quality with no agricultural pollutants.
6. In-field features to enhance biodiversity, such as beetle banks or flower strips to enable beneficial invertebrates to move through large fields, fallow plots for ground nesting birds and Skylark plots in winter cereals.

Wherever possible, all wildlife habitats should be managed without the use of any pesticides.

Many species are dependent on farmland to thrive. The majority of farmers need to deliver the minimum of 10% wildlife habitats to recover national populations of these farmland specialists.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) needs to play a critical role alongside the Local Nature Recovery (LNR) scheme to support farmers to manage at least 10% of their farm for nature. The SFI is the first of three new schemes government plans to introduce in England to reward farmers for taking action to recover nature, improve soil health and mitigate climate change. The aim of the SFI is to achieve high uptake with most, if not all, farmers taking part. High uptake of the 10% provision via the SFI is critical to recover once common and widespread species such as skylark, yellowhammer and linnet and to ensure the government can meets its new legally binding target to halt the loss of species abundance by 2030. The Local Nature Recovery scheme needs to build upon this, helping to target bespoke management for more localised species such as Greater Horseshoe Bats, Turtle Doves, Marsh Fritillary butterflies, areas of semi-natural habitat and to bolster quality and quantity of uptake in key hotspots for farmland species.

Evidence shows that schemes are most effective when management is carefully targeted and underpinned by good quality trusted advice. The SFI is not currently expected to be targeted nor underpinned by advice, but we strongly recommend farmers seek expert advice to make the most of their efforts to support nature. In farmland species hotspots, farmers should be encouraged to deliver the 10% through the LNR scheme underpinned by expert advice to be sure of achieving high-quality habitats.

Defra has committed to introduce a Farmland Biodiversity Standards in 2023 but have yet to publish what this will look like. We have used these six key actions to craft a proposed SFI Farmland Biodiversity Standard, which rewards farmers for delivering the 10%, whilst providing flexibility to adapt management at the farm level. This includes an introductory Level to provide a stepping stone towards meeting at least the intermediate level by 2030.

There will be a need for a few new options such as butterfly and bee banks.

There is overlap between options in our proposed Biodiversity Standard and other Standards within the SFI. It is vital that Defra designs the SFI standards, so they dovetail at the farm level, enabling farmers to build up a package of actions that works for them. For example, stacking soils, biodiversity and integrated pest management standards seamlessly.

Ponds and other water features are key for wildlife. However, creating them means capital and access to planning permissions. So, whist we have included ponds in our proposal, we recognise the barriers that need to be overcome first.

To build a sustainable farming system that supports nature, the SFI should also reward farmers to practice:

• Excellent soil management to enhance the soil biota and boost soil organic matter;
• Integrated Pest Management techniques to minimise the use of pesticides and veterinary medicines, though use of clean grazing practices, diversifying crop rotations, using companion crops and trap crops, and making the most of flower-rich habitats to boost beneficial invertebrates;
• Minimise the use of inorganic fertilisers by careful monitoring of nutritional needs and use of organic alternatives;
• Minimise the use of water through rainwater harvesting, maintenance of irrigation plumbing and crop selection;
• Minimising Greenhouse Gas emissions and maximising carbon sequestration through adjustments to farm management.

Management to improve soil organic matter and adopt more integrated approaches to crop and livestock health can also make farming more profitable and resilient.