Under Scotland’s Agricultural Reform Programme, the removal of the historic 75% grassland exemption means growers claiming over 15 hectares of arable land (including temporary grass) must now dedicate 5% of that area to Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs).

As we look ahead to post-harvest, EFA Green Cover (EFAGC) is top-of-mind, making now the ideal time to review how green cover can support your wider farm strategy.

EFA green cover: rules and what is new

EFA green cover requires establishing temporary autumn cover crops to protect soil over winter, build soil structure, and fix or retain key nutrients.

Key rules

• Establishment window: Green cover must be sown and successfully established by 1st November.

• Retention period: Must be maintained through 31st December.

• Species diversity: The mix must consist predominantly of two or more eligible species.

Grazing restrictions lifted

Under previous rules, green cover had to remain untouched until after 31st December. Under the new rules, growers can now graze EFA green cover as soon as the crop is fit to consume.

This turns an environmental compliance requirement into forage for store lambs or winter cattle, helping mixed farming enterprises optimise productivity.

Choosing the right seed mix for your farm objective

To help you choose the right mixture, we’ve broken down our top mix options by key farm objectives:

1. Forage provision and winter grazing

For arable and livestock setups looking to turn green cover into high-value autumn or winter feed:

• Forage Root Mix 1 (Stubble Turnip, Forage Rape, Kale Rape) \ An economical livestock choice ideal for finishing lambs and producing high forage bulk quickly. \ (Sowing rate: 5kg/ha | Window: July to mid-August)

• Vetch and Rye Mix (Grain Rye, Vetch) \ Combines high-biomass rye with vetch to capture and fix nitrogen for following crops. \ (Sowing rate: 40kg/ha | Window: July to mid-August)

• Post-Harvest Grazing Mix (Tillage Radish, Berseem Clover, Turnip Rape, Stubble Turnip, Forage Rape, Kale Rape) \ High grazing yield paired with deep-rooting tillage radish to break up compaction, a great hybrid of cover crop and forage crop. \ (Sowing rate: 10kg/ha | Window: July to mid-August)

• Post Maize Grazer (Forage Rye, Turnip Rape) \ Perfect late-season forage option suited to later drilling windows such as after spring barley. \ (Sowing rate: 30kg/ha | Window: August to September)

2. Soil cover and conditioning

If your main goal is improving soil health, structure, and organic matter:

• Forage Rye and Radish (Forage Rye, Oil Radish) \ Exceptional ground cover with late September drilling flexibility and added grazing potential. \ (Sowing rate: 25kg/ha | Window: August to September)

• Radish and Phacelia Mix (Oil Radish, Phacelia) \ Deep taproots from oil radish break pan layers while phacelia’s fine roots condition the topsoil. \ (Sowing rate: 12.5kg/ha | Window: August to September)

• Basic Power Mix (Winter Oats, Oil Radish, Crimson Clover) \ Provides a diverse root structure to help condition soil with the addition of a quick growing annual clover. \ (Sowing rate: 25kg/ha | Window: August to September)

3. Economical soil improvement

To protect and improve soil health while keeping input costs smart:

• Oat and Phacelia (Winter Oats, Phacelia, Red Clover) \ A cost-efficient, widely adaptable mix that fits well into pea rotations. \ (Sowing rate: 25kg/ha | Window: August to September)

• Black Oat and Phacelia Mix (Black Oats, Phacelia, Red Clover) \ Fast-establishing and frost-susceptible- ideal for growers who want a clear seedbed in spring without heavy crop trash. \ (Sowing rate: 16kg/ha | Window: August to mid-September)

• Basic Soil Improver (Winter Oats, Vetch, Phacelia) \ A simple, efficient soil-enhancement mixture with good winter hardiness. \ (Sowing rate: 20kg/ha | Window: August to early September)

Need help choosing the right EFA strategy for your farm?

While green cover is ideal post-harvest, do not forget that enhanced greening includes 11 total options.

Whatever your farm model and your specific goals for the year ahead, talk to your Frontier advisor to discuss seed mix availability, sowing windows, and custom EFA solutions.