Multi-species summer-sown cover crop

Where it applies

Arable, Horticultural, Permanent crops

Eligibility conditions

• Below the moorland line
• Arable land excluding temporary grassland; permanent crops must be horticultural

What you'll do

Sow a summer cover crop of at least 4 species from 2 or more plant families (cereals/grasses no more than a quarter of the mix) — not maize, miscanthus, sorghum, reed canary grass or the other excluded species. Establish over summer (usually June–August), keep a leafy cover protecting the soil with little bare ground, don't cut, graze or apply fertiliser, and destroy it no more than 2 weeks before the next crop.

Evidence to keep

• A dated sowing record with the seed mix used
• Photos of the established cover crop
• Seed invoices

When

• Jun–Aug: Establish over the summer (usually Jun–Aug), within 12 months (first year)

Combining with other actions

Actions that can be paid on the same area:

• SFI 2026: AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
• SFI 2024: AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2
• SFI 2023: AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
• CS Higher Tier: CAB2, CAB17, CHS3, CHS9, CSP9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
• Countryside Stewardship: AB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP5, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4, SW5, SW6