Poland Clarifies Soil Cover Rules: How Long Catch Crops Must Stay in Fields

Soil cover requirements for Polish farmers under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have changed. The GAEC 6 standard, which protects soil against erosion and loss of quality, no longer covers the winter period in the form it had at the start of the current CAP. The rules were explained by CAP expert Grzegorz Ignaczewski, according to the Polish farming outlet topagrar.pl.

What has changed

In its original version, introduced with the CAP reform, the standard required cover on 80% of arable land from the beginning of November to 15 February of the following year. The rules were changed after farmer protests. According to the version discussed by the expert, cover must be present on 80% of arable land from the harvest of the main crop until 15 October. The outlet notes that requirements for a given year and farm should be checked, since details may depend on the regulations in force.

Catch crops after 15 October

The end of the GAEC 6 period does not mean all catch crops can be ploughed in straight away. They serve a protective function, and those sown under the Carbon Farming eco-scheme are subject to extra rules. Winter catch crops covered by this scheme must remain in the field until 15 February of the following year. Before cultivating or removing a catch crop, farmers should therefore check the conditions of the chosen option.

Maize straw and mulching

Chopped straw left after a maize harvest can count as soil cover if it is not mixed into the soil. This matters for farms that leave crop residues on the field surface.

The discussion also covered mulching of catch crops. From 15 November it is to be permitted for catch crops sown under the eco-scheme as well. Because the rules do not define mulching precisely, the expert advises caution and leaving most of the biomass on the field surface.