Catch Crop Establishment August 26, 2015 12:00 am The wet weather conditions at the end of August have caused some concern for those due to plant EFA catch crops. According to the rules these areas must be established by the 31st August. However, many will have yet to harvest crops on the designated areas. Our understanding is that there are a number of options; 1. If there is ‘surplus’ EFA area above the 5% required, then it is possible to simply chose not to establish the catch crop (as long as the area remains above 5%). There will be no penalties, even though the claimant has failed to do something they said they would. If this is not possible (i.e. the claim is near the 5% limit) then; 2. On an individual field, it is possible to swap catch crops for cover crops with no penalty. EFA cover crops must be established by 1st October, so this gives a longer establishment window. The downside is that cover crops must stay in place until 15th of January, unlike catch crops, which only have to be in place until the 1st October. Therefore, rather than sowing a late autumn crop the land must either be used for a spring crop or left fallow and sown in autumn 2016. 3. It is possible to swap the catch crop between fields without penalty. For example, if a field where catch crops were due to be planted has not yet been harvested, but the neighbouring one has, the catch crop could be put into that field instead. Changes must be informed to the RPA in writing, and can only be made if the RPA has not notified the farmer of an issue or an inspection. Despite the wet weather, it seems unlikely that DEFRA/RPA will grant a blanket derogation to allow planting of catch crops after 31st August.
