UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU)

What you must do to get paid for this action and advice on how to do it.

This is an action in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme: expanded offer for 2024. You must read the SFI scheme information to understand the scheme rules and how to apply.

Duration

3 years

How much you鈥檒l be paid

拢23 per hectare (ha) per year

Action鈥檚 aim

This supplemental action鈥檚 aim is that all the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland are cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

The purpose of this is to:

  • create a more varied sward structure
  • control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
  • increase wildlife diversity

Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land entered into one of the following base actions:

  • UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
  • UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland
  • UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland

If you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for the following supplemental actions on the same are:

  • UPL4: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)
  • UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU)

Eligibility of protected land

Protected land Eligibility
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) Same as your selected base action
Historic and archaeological features Same as your selected base action

Available area you can enter into this action

This is the same as your selected base action.

Rotational or static action

This is the same as your selected base action.

What to do

100% of the GLU on land entered into UPL1, UPL2 or UPL3 must be cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

You must include the following information in the written stocking calendar required for UPL1, UPL2 and UPL3:

  • dates you plan to graze the land parcel with cattle, ponies or both during each calendar month
  • monthly numbers of cattle, ponies or both, including the age bracket for cattle

When to do it

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

How to do it

It鈥檚 up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

  • follow this action鈥檚 requirements 鈥� these are identified by a 鈥榤ust鈥�
  • do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action鈥檚 aim

You may find it helpful to read the 鈥榓dvice to help you do this action鈥�, but it鈥檚 not part of this action鈥檚 requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they鈥檙e done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read 鈥榃hat to do鈥� and 鈥榃hen to do it鈥� to find out when this action must be done.

Scheme Action or option codes
SFI actions Same as your selected base action
CS options Same as your selected base action
ES options Same as your selected base action
SFI pilot standards Same as your selected base action

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6 鈥楨ligible land in other funding schemes鈥� in the SFI scheme information for more details.鈥�

You can do one of the following supplemental actions on the same area as this supplemental action:

  • SPM4: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)
  • SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)

Advice to help you do this action

The following advice may help you to do this action, but it鈥檚 not part of this action鈥檚 requirements.聽聽

How to calculate the livestock percentage

Once you鈥檝e converted your livestock numbers into GLU using the values shown under 鈥榃hat to do鈥�, you can use the to calculate the percentage of total GLU entered into your selected base action.聽

The GLU percentage is an annual average.聽

Grazing moorland with cattle and ponies

Before you graze with cattle or ponies, or a combination of both, it鈥檚 advisable to assess your moorland so you can manage grazing in a way that helps to:

  • maintain, enhance or restore habitats
  • protect historic and archaeological features

You can apply for CMOR1: assess moorland and produce a written record to help you identify opportunities for managing cattle and pony grazing on your moorland.聽

Type of cattle聽聽

Cattle with low nutritional requirements (such as dry suckler cows) are best for sites with fibrous herbage.聽聽

Mature and placid cattle are best suited for sites where there are ground-nesting birds, as they reduce the risk of trampling.聽

Type of pony聽聽

Hardy native ponies and their cross-breeds are well suited to the harsh conditions on moorlands.

It鈥檚 important that ponies can exhibit their natural herd behaviours, preferably with a mixed age of animals.聽聽聽

All ponies need access to drier areas for rest. This is particularly important for pregnant mares and foals.聽

Grazing purple moor-grass with cattle and ponies

Grazing purple moor-grass with cattle or ponies, or a combination of both, during the spring and early summer (usually between around mid-May and mid-July) can reduce species dominance. This is because the grassland is growing quickly and is most palatable.

You can choose to graze more heavily during the spring and summer. This can help to improve vegetation structure on areas dominated by purple moor-grass.

Updates to this page

Published 21 May 2024
Last updated 5 August 2024 show all updates
  1. Duration - 3 years instead of 鈥榮ame as base action鈥�. Where you can do this action - if you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for UPL4 or UPL5 on the same area. Eligibility of protected land - added 鈥榶our selected鈥� in relation to the base action. Available area - added 鈥榶our selected鈥� in relation to the base action. Rotational or static action - added 鈥榶our selected鈥� in relation to the base action. Other actions or options you can do on the same area - added 鈥榶our selected鈥� in relation to the base action. Added supplemental actions SPM4 and SPM5. Published voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action鈥檚 requirements.

  2. First published.