CSS Payment Rates Set to Increase

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 CSS Payment Rates Set to Increase

The RPA have started the year positively and announced changes to Countryside Stewardship payment rates for both current and future agreements. Payments have increased on average by 30% depending upon the option. Check below for the increase to some of the most popular options.  

   

Grassland Options  Until now payments for grassland have been mediocre at best, the increase isn’t revolutionary but makes CSS a little more worthwhile.  GS2 Permanent grassland with very low inputs has increased from £95/ha to £132/ ha GS4 Legume and herb rich sward has increased from £309/ha to £358/ha GS13 Management of grassland for target features has increased from £90/ ha to £131/ha
 


Arable Options  For awkward field corners and low yielding areas, there are options under the arable offering which are a no brainer. A guaranteed income for less profitable areas could be even more attractive with the following increases.  AB1 Nectar flower mix has increased from £511/ ha to £579/ha  AB8 Flower rich plots and margins has increased from £539/ha to £628/ha  AB7 Whole crop winter cereals has increased from £495/ha to £554/ha 

 


Water Protection Options Buffer strips, cover cropping and seasonal livestock removal are all paid for under CSS. Again, payment rates have increased, a very welcome change.  SW1 4-6m buffer strip on cultivated land has increased from £353/ ha to £419/ ha SW6 Winter cover crops has increased from £114/ha to £124/ha  SW9 Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland has increased from £88/ha to £106/ha 




Other Options  Those protecting historic features on their land have benefitted from the increase in payment rates.  HS3 Reduced depth, non inversion cultivation on historic and archaeological features has increased from £79/ha to £88/ha   HS4 Scrub clearance on historic and archaeological features has increased from £137/ha to £163/ha Those with the popular BE3 Management of hedgerows option have had a slight increase from £8 to £9 per 100m of hedge, not a lot, but every little helps.     

If you don’t currently have a stewardship agreement, but like the look of the above payment rates, click here to contact us

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