PRF3: Non-mechanical robotic weeding
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 youâll be paidÂ
ÂŁ101 per hectare (ha) per year
Actionâs aimÂ
This actionâs aim is that non-mechanical robotic weeding technology is used to control weeds, so thereâs minimal use of herbicides.
The purpose of this is to:
- improve productivity
- improve water and soil quality
- increase biodiversity
- support an integrated pest management approach
Where you can do this actionÂ
You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line thatâs:
- an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1 âEligible land types for SFIâ in the SFI scheme information)
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the land cover
Eligible land
| Eligible land type | Eligible land cover | Compatible land use code |
|---|---|---|
| Arable land used to grow crops | Arable land | Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops |
| Temporary grassland | Arable land | TG01 |
| Arable land lying fallow | Arable land | FA01 |
| Permanent horticultural crops | Permanent crops | TC01 |
Eligibility of protected land
| Land or features with protection | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) | Eligible â you must get SSSI consent before you do this action (read section 10.3âŻâSSSI łŠŽÇČÔČő±đČÔłÙâ in the SFI scheme information to find out how to do this) |
| Historic and archaeological features | Eligible â you must get a SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.6âŻâLand with historic or archaeological featuresâ in the SFI scheme information to find out how to do this) |
Available area you can enter into this action
Total or part of the available area in a land parcel.
Rotational or static actionÂ
For arable and non-permanent horticultural crops, including temporary grassland, this action is rotational. This means you can either:
- move its location for the second and third years of this actionâs duration
- do it at the same location each year of this actionâs duration
For permanent horticultural crops, this action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this actionâs duration.
What to do
You must control weeds on land entered into this action using a non-mechanical robotic weeder that:
- identifies and locates weeds
- destroys weeds using a laser or high voltage electricity
If the land is being used to grow arable or non-permanent horticultural crops, you must do this action on one crop from when itâs sown until itâs harvested.
For the purposes of this action, an arable or non-permanent horticultural crop includes:
- combinable crops, such as cereals and oilseed rape
- root crops
- field vegetables and salad crops
- soft fruit crops which do not occupy the land for 5 years or more and provide repeated harvests (also known as permanent crops)
You can choose which arable or non-permanent horticultural crop to do this action on, but it must be a âcash cropâ. This means itâs a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.
You can apply residual herbicides to your chosen arable or non-permanent horticultural crop before the sown crop plants or weeds emerge (âpre-emergenceâ). This can be at the same time the crop is established (drilled or planted) or within a few days of establishment.
âResidualâ herbicides are long-lasting selective herbicides which control certain weed species without harming the crop.
You must not use any other herbicides on land entered into this action.
When to do itÂ
For arable or non-permanent horticultural crops, you must do this action on at least one crop thatâs sown during each year of this actionâs 3-year duration. You can harvest it in a subsequent year of this actionâs duration if you sow the next crop for this action in the same year.
This means you must do this action on a crop thatâs sown during:
- the first year of this actionâs duration â you can harvest it in the second year of this actionâs duration
- the second year of this actionâs duration â you can harvest it in the third year of this actionâs duration
- the third year of this actionâs duration â you must do this action until you harvest the crop or this actionâs end date, whichever is earlier
If youâre already growing an arable or non-permanent horticultural crop on the land entered into this action when the action starts, you must do this action on a crop thatâs sown within 12 months of the actionâs start date.
For grassland or permanent horticultural crops, you must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this actionâs 3-year duration.
How to do itÂ
You must follow this actionâs requirements â these are identified by a âmust.â
You may find it helpful to read the âadvice to help you do this actionâ, but itâs not part of this actionâs requirements.
Evidence to keepÂ
You must keep evidence to show what youâve done to complete this action, such as:
- data from the tractorâs or non-mechanical weederâs job recording system identifying the weeder, the date and areas weeded
- field operations at a land parcel level, including the land parcel reference number and the dates the arable crop was sown and harvested (where relevant)
- contractorâs invoice if you use a contractor to do this action
If itâs not clear that youâve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this actionÂ
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 theyâre done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read âWhat to doâ and âWhen to do itâ to find out when this action must be done.
| Scheme | Action or option codes |
|---|---|
| SFI 2024 actions | AHW7, AHW8, AHW10, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, SOH4, AGF1, AGF2, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3 |
| SFI 2023 actions | IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3 |
| CS options | AB6, AB7, AB13, AB14, GS3, SW5, SW6, SW12, OP1, OP5, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5 |
| ES options | No ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot standards | No area-based SFI pilot standards |
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 âEligible land in other funding schemesâ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
- SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
- SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3
- CS option BE3 (management of hedgerows)
- the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard
Advice to help you do this actionÂ
The following advice may help you to do this action, but itâs not part of this actionâs requirements.
Using non-mechanical robotic weeding equipment
The non-mechanical robotic weeding equipment you use can be either tractor mounted or autonomous.
You may be able to get funding for this equipment through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
Updates to this page
-
Where you can do this action - an eligible land type is defined in section 5.1 âEligible land types for SFIâ in the SFI scheme information. Eligibility of protected land - updated link to section 10.3 âSSSI łŠŽÇČÔČő±đČÔłÙâ in the SFI scheme information. What to do - you can apply residual herbicides at the same time the crop is established (drilled or planted) or within a few days of establishment. Other actions or options you can do on the same area - OFC5 and OFM6 added to SFI 2024 actions. OR5 added to CS options. Published voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this actionâs requirements.
-
First published.