OFM5: Organic land management – horticultural land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions.

This action’s aim is that horticultural land is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

• improve soil health
• increase biodiversity
• improve water quality

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

Where you can do it

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

• registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
• used to grow at least one horticultural crop in each land parcel entered into this action, each year of this action’s duration
• an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
• declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Rotational or static

For non-permanent horticultural crops grown on arable land this action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

• move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
• do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

For permanent horticultural crops, this action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

Evidence to keep

You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action. This must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration.

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.