Eligible crops for the purposes of crop diversification
For the purposes of crop diversification, a crop is defined in the EU Regulations as
any of the following:(a)
a culture of any of the different genera defined in the botanical classification of
crops;
(b)
a culture of any of the species in the case of Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and
Cucurbitaceae;
(c)
land lying fallow;
(d)
grass or other herbaceous forage (clovers, lucerne, sainfoin and forage
vetches) on arable land (temporary grass).
Winter and spring crops shall count as separate crops.
It is anticipated that most crops grown in Northern Ireland will meet the definition of a
crop outlined in the EU Regulations. The exceptions to this are permanent grassland
and permanent crops which do not count as crops for the purposes of crop
diversification.
Permanent crops are non-rotational crops other than permanent grassland that
occupy the land for five years or more and yield repeated harvests. The most
common examples of permanent crops are orchards, short rotational coppice,
miscanthus, ornamentals and nurseries and multi-annual crops. Examples of
permanent crops are included in Annex A of this document.
The tables below provide examples of crops which meet the definitions of (a) and (b)
above. It should be noted that these are not exhaustive.
If the crop that you are intending to grow is not on the list or you have any queries as
to what would be regarded as a separate crop for the purposes of crop
diversification, please contact your local CAFRE Crops Development Adviser.
It is important to note that individual crops which fall within a single genus or single
species (in the case of Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae) count as
only one crop for the purposes of crop diversification. Therefore, if for example, you
have a requirement to grow two crops, and you grow only cabbage and cauliflower,
these would count as only one crop because they fall within the same species
(Brassica oleracea). As a result, in this scenario, you would not meet your crop
diversification requirements and there would be a reduction in your greening
payment. Similarly, if you grow only onions and leeks, these would count as only one
crop because they fall within the same genera (Allium) and are not Brassicaceae,
Solanaceae or Cucurbitaceae.
The end use of the crop has no impact on how it is counted for the purposes of crop
diversification. For example, if you grow some winter wheat as wholecrop and some
for grain, this counts as one crop (winter wheat).
Similarly, the end use of grass has no impact on how it is counted for the purposes
of crop diversification. For example, if a farmer grows grass and uses some for
forage and some for anaerobic digestion, this will count as one crop (grass),
provided it is not permanent grassland.
The growing of a seed mixture or a number of different seed mixtures will count as
one crop. Therefore, if you grow two or more different seed mixtures, this will count
as one crop.
Examples of crops in (a) above, i.e. culture of any of the different genera
defined in the botanical classification of crops
Crop Name
Genus
Includes
Barley
Hordeum
Feed barley, Malting barley, Two row
barley, Six row barley
Basil
Ocimum
All Basils
Beet
Beta
Beetroot, Chard, Field Beet, Fodder
Beet, Mangolds, Redbeet,Sugar Beet
Carrot
Daucus
Carrot
Celeriac
Apium
Celeriac, Celery
Chicory
Chichorium
Chicory, Endive, Radiccio, Italian
Chicory
Dill
Anethum
Dill
Fennel
Foeniculum
Fennel
Field Beans
Vicia
Broad beans, Field beans, Tic beans
Green Beans
Phaseolus
French beans, Green beans, Haricot
beans, Runner beans
Hemp (grown as
an energy crop)
Cannabis
Hemp
Lettuce
Lactuca
Lettuce, Romaine lettuce, Cos lettuce,
Iceberg lettuce, Butterhead lettuce
Linseed
Linum
Linseed, Flax
Lupins
Lupinus
Lupins
Maize
Zea
Maize, Corn, Sweetcorn
Marjoram
Origanum
Marjoram, Oregano
Oats
Avena
Oats, Quaking oats, Porridge oats, Feed
oats, Naked oats
Onions
Allium
Onions, Shallots, Garlic, Leeks, Chives,
Scallions, Spring onions
Parsley
Petroselinum
All parsleys
Parsnips
Pastinaca
Parsnips
Peas
Pisum
Feed pea, Mange tout, Marrow fat pea,
Snap pea, Snow pea, Vining pea
Rye
Secale
Rye, Winter Rye (for cover)
Spinach
Spinacia
Spinach
Strawberry
Fragaria
Strawberries
Sunflower
Helianthus
Sunflowers
Sweet Potato
Ipomoea
Sweet potato
Triticale
Triticosecale
Triticale
Triticum
Biscuit wheat, Common or Bread wheat,
Durum wheat, Einkorn, Feed wheat, Red
wheat, Spelt
Wheat
Examples of crops in (b) above, i.e. a culture of any of the species in the case
of Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae.
Brassicaceae
Crop Name
Species
Includes
Cabbage
Brassica oleracea
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbages,
Calabrese, Cauliflower, Chinese kale,
Kale, Kohlrabi, Red cabbage, Savoy
cabbage, White cabbage
Rapeseed
Brassica napus
Industrial rape, Oilseed rape, Swede
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Radish
Brassica rapa
Bok choi, Chinese cabbage (Pak choi),
Turnip, Turnip rape
Crop Name
Species
Includes
Aubergine
Solanum melongena
Aubergine, Eggplant
Chilli
Capsicum baccatum
Bishop's crown chilli, Lemon drop chilli,
Peppadew chilli
Pepper
Capsicum annuum
Bell pepper, Chilli pepper
Potato
Solanum tuberosum
Early potato, Maincrop potato, Seed
potato
Tomato
Solanum
lycopersicum
Tomato
Tree Chilli
Capsicum pubescens
Tree Chilli
Species
Includes
Turnip
Solanaceae
Cucurbitacae
Crop Name
Butternut Squash Cucurbita moschata
Butternut squash, Cheese pumpkin
Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Cucumber
Cucurbita pepo
Pumpkins, Squashes, Marrows, Zucchini,
Courgettes
Squash
Annex A
Examples of Permanent Crops
Permanent crops are non-rotational crops other than permanent grassland that
occupy the land for five years or more and yield repeated harvests. The most
common examples of permanent crops are orchards, short rotational coppice,
miscanthus, ornamentals and nurseries, and multi-annual crops. As outlined above,
permanent crops do not count as crops for the purposes of crop diversification.
Examples of permanent crops include the following (please note that the examples
provided below are not exhaustive):-
Almonds
Grapes
Peaches
Apples
Guavas
Pears
Apricots
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Artichoke
Hops
Pineapples
Asparagus
Horseradish
Pine nuts
Avocados
Lavender
Pistachios
Bilberries
Loganberries
Plums
Blackberries
Macadamia nuts
Raspberries
Cherries
Mangos
Reed canary grass
Chestnuts
Mangosteens
Rhubarb
Citrus fruit
Melissa
Rosemary
Cranberries
Mint
Sloes and Quinces
Currants
Miscanthus
Walnuts
Mulberries
Figs
Gooseberries
Papayas and Locust
Beans
Notes:
1. Other fruits under the genus ‘Vaccinium’ are also permanent crops.
2. Strawberries are not permanent crops and are classified as an arable use.
Consequently, strawberries are an eligible crop for the purposes of crop
diversification.
Nursery Crops
Nursery crops are areas of young woody plants grown in the open air, on soil in
greenhouses or under polytunnels for later transportation. These cannot be used as
a crop for crop diversification purposes.
Examples of nursery crops include the following:
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Vine and root stock nurseries
Fruit tree nurseries
Ornamental nurseries
Commercial nurseries of forest trees (excluding those for the holding’s own
requirements grown in woodland)
Nurseries of trees and bushes for planting in gardens, parks, at the roadside
and on embankments
Short Rotation Coppice
The list of tree species which can be used for short rotation coppice to secure direct
payments are listed below. The maximum harvest cycle is 5 years. These cannot be
used as a crop for crop diversification purposes.
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Alder
Ash
Birch
Hazel
Lime
Poplar
Sweet chestnut
Sycamore
Willow