Basic overwinter stubble

Where it applies

Arable

Eligibility conditions

• Below the moorland line
• Only land that grew cereals (not maize or sorghum), oilseed rape or linseed
• Land you identify as NOT at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff — keep evidence

What you'll do

After harvesting cereals (not maize or sorghum), oilseed rape or linseed, leave the stubble standing over winter until about mid-February — food and cover for farmland birds. Don't use a pre-harvest desiccant, and don't top, graze, spray, fertilise, manure or lime the stubble.

Evidence to keep

• Written evidence the land isn't at risk of soil erosion or runoff (an existing soil plan is fine)
• A record of harvest and when the stubble was retained
• Field operation records, with invoices

When

• Sep–Feb: Leave the stubble standing over winter (harvest to ~mid-Feb)

Combining with other actions

Actions that can be paid on the same area:

• SFI 2026: AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, AHW10, AHW11, CIPM4, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
• SFI 2024: AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, AHW10, AHW11, CIPM1, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
• SFI 2023: IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
• CS Higher Tier: CAB5, CAB11, CAB14, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
• Countryside Stewardship: AB5, AB7, AB9, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, HS3, OR3, OT3, SW5