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3 yearsÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paid Ìý

£150 per hectare (ha) per year Ìý

Action’s aim Ìý

This action’s aim is that mechanical robotic weeding technology is used to control weeds, so there’s minimal use of herbicides. Ìý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• improve productivity,ÌýwaterÌýand soil qualityÌý

• increase biodiversityÌý

• support an integrated pest management approachÌý

Where you can do this action Ìý

You can do this action on agricultural landÌýlocatedÌýbelow the moorland line that’s: Ìý

• an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)Ìý

• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps Ìý

• declared with a land useÌýcode which is compatible with the eligible land cover Ìý

It will not usually be possible for you to do this action on combinable crops.Ìý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops, excluding temporary grassland	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixingÌýcrops	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	Ìý

Eligibility of protected landÌý

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:Ìý

• give notice to NaturalÌýEngland to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreementÌý

• have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)Ìý

Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).Ìý

Available area you canÌýenter intoÌýthis actionÌý

Total or part of the available area in a land parcel. It’sÌýyour responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.Ìý

You must do this action on the areaÌýentered intoÌýyour SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some orÌýall ofÌýthe area, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.       Ìý

Rotational or static action Ìý

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either: Ìý

• move its location for the second and third years of this action’s durationÌý

• do it at the same location each year of this action’s durationÌý

What to doÌý

You must control weeds on landÌýentered intoÌýthis action using a mechanical robotic weeder that:  Ìý

• weeds between and within the rows of one cropÌý

• has camera or GPS-guided hoes which physically remove the weeds from the groundÌý

You must do this action on one crop from whenÌýit’sÌýsown untilÌýit’sÌýharvested.  Ìý

For the purposes of this action, a crop includes: Ìý

• root cropsÌý

• field vegetables and salad cropsÌý

• soft fruit crops which do not occupy the land for 5 years or more and provide repeated harvests (also known as ‘permanentÌýcrops’)Ìý

You can choose which crop to do this action on, but it must be a ‘cash crop’.ÌýThis meansÌýit’sÌýa crop grown to be harvested for commercial use. Ìý

You can apply residual herbicides to the crop before the sown crop plants or weedsÌýemergeÌý(‘pre-emergence’). This can be at the same time the crop isÌýestablishedÌý(drilled or planted) or within a few days of establishment.Ìý

‘Residual’ herbicides are long-lasting selective herbicides which control certain weed species without harming the crop. Ìý

You must not use any other herbicides on the crop from whenÌýit’sÌýsown untilÌýit’sÌýharvested. Ìý

When to do it Ìý

You must do this action on at least one cropÌýthat’sÌýsown during each year of this action’s 3-year duration. You can harvest it in aÌýsubsequentÌýyear of this action’s duration if you sow the next crop for this action in the same year. Ìý

This means you must do this action on a cropÌýthat’sÌýsown during: Ìý

• the first year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the second year of this action’s durationÌý

• the second year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the third year of this action’s durationÌý

• the third year of this action’s duration – you must do this action until you harvest that crop or this action’s end date, whichever is earlierÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýalready growing a crop on the landÌýentered intoÌýthis action when this action starts, you must do this action on a cropÌýthat’sÌýsown within 12 months of this action’s start date. Ìý

How to do it  Ìý

You must follow this action’s requirements – these areÌýidentifiedÌýby a ‘must.’ Ìý

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, butÌýit’sÌýnot part of this action’s requirements.Ìý

Evidence to keep Ìý

You must keep evidence to show whatÌýyou’veÌýdone to complete this action, such as:  Ìý

• data from the tractor’s job recording systemÌýidentifyingÌýthe mechanical robotic weeder, the date and areas weededÌý

• field operations at a land parcel level, including the land parcel reference number and the dates the crop was sown and harvestedÌý

• contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this actionÌý

IfÌýit’sÌýnot clear thatÌýyou’veÌýdone this action in a way that couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it. Ìý

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

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

Scheme	Action orÌýoptionÌýcodes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH3	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB14, CAB17, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	AB10, AB14, AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR3, OT3, SW12, SW5, SW6	Ìý
ES options	No ES revenue options	Ìý

If an action orÌýoptionÌýcannot beÌýlocatedÌýonÌýthe same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.   Ìý

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: Ìý

• SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
• SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2Ìý
• SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  Ìý
• CSHT actions: CHRW4
• CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)  Ìý

Advice to help you do this actionÌý

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

Using mechanical robotic weedingÌýequipment

The mechanical robotic weeding equipment you use can be either tractor mounted or autonomous.