Barenbrug is warning growers to seek advice on the suitability of seed mixtures being sold as SAM3 compatible, as decisions over herbal ley seed loom.
The company notes that Defra has issued guidance as to what will constitute a herbal ley, but that these are not yet mandatory.
“A seed mixture that has been constituted only to tick boxes against the SAM3 guidelines is perhaps not the best approach,” said Janet Montgomery, Barenbrug’s agriculture product manager. “While it may serve to meet the bare minimum required by the guidelines, it risks doing little or nothing to achieve the full intention of a herbal ley, environmentally or agronomically.
“The best herbal leys deliver improvements in soil health, structure and fertility, and increased biodiversity, while remaining agronomically productive. That’s the true spirit of the SFI: delivering environmental benefits with approachable principles that continue to deliver productivity as part of a conventional farming system,” she points out.
“Yet some mixtures labelled ‘SAM3’ might be little more than a standard mix with a ‘top-up’ of legumes and herbs. It’s a bit like buying an unknown brand of cola: while the label shows all the same ingredients as the top brand, there’s always a difference in taste. It’s all about know-how – knowing how to blend to get the best results.”
A below-par seed blend might not only result in a poor herbal ley, it might also underperform agronomically. “A herbal ley is a really approachable, accessible way to enter SFI. Done well, it will deliver – and will demonstrate that SFI doesn’t have to be difficult, or result in lower productivity, if the right agronomic decisions are made.
“Yet if someone’s had a bad experience as a result of a sub-standard mixture, who’ll want to come back to the idea of a herbal ley?”
SAM3 promises payments of £382 per hectare for herbal leys, but the absence of firm guidelines makes it difficult to second guess what will be deemed acceptable.
“We don’t yet know how SFI claims like SAM3 will be checked and enforced, but we believe pursuing the highest quality route ensures top-notch agronomic performance without compromise, while meeting all the environmental requirements that the scheme is designed to address.”
For more information go to www.barenbrug.co.uk