SFI Grassland & deer

[75]

A lot of farmers around here have put grassland into SFI payment scheme (which I'm sure is very widespread). I've one patch in particular the deer used to love and would regularly be seen laid up there during the day. Sheep would graze it off early winter, couple of cuts of hay during the summer and the deer were never far away (apart from a few weeks when the sheep were on).

This year it's in the SFI scheme so only first cut early summer and then left to go to seed. Happy days - deer will love that. Undisturbed and plenty of food during the barren winter months.

Nope! I've seen deer on there only twice all season. First was a few hinds in August and second they were passing through after being spooked by dog walkers. They're still in the area and regularly see groups of 10-20 reds a field or two away but they never venture on that ground anymore. Anyone else found this on SFI stuff - the deer just don't like it?

 

[TringSaint]

All of my perms have set aside or stewardship areas and the deer use them a lot.
Has something new been planted there that the deer don’t like? Or could it be being targeted by others without your knowledge?

When deer stop using part of any of my perms is because something has changed - one year a farmer added a chalk or lime wash to his silage grass and the deer hated it and wouldn’t feed off that area until it had grown out. Same goes for grass which has had a muck spreader over it - they give it a wide berth until it’s rained in.

 

[jall55]

A lot of farmers around here have put grassland into SFI payment scheme (which I'm sure is very widespread). I've one patch in particular the deer used to love and would regularly be seen laid up there during the day. Sheep would graze it off early winter, couple of cuts of hay during the summer and the deer were never far away (apart from a few weeks when the sheep were on).

This year it's in the SFI scheme so only first cut early summer and then left to go to seed. Happy days - deer will love that. Undisturbed and plenty of food during the barren winter months.

Nope! I've seen deer on there only twice all season. First was a few hinds in August and second they were passing through after being spooked by dog walkers. They're still in the area and regularly see groups of 10-20 reds a field or two away but they never venture on that ground anymore. Anyone else found this on SFI stuff - the deer just don't like it?

Perhaps depends on the mix 75
We are in the old scheme - the HLS - and we plant wild bird covers which include chicory - The deer - mainly roe - love it

 

[75]

All of my perms have set aside or stewardship areas and the deer use them a lot.
Has something new been planted there that the deer don’t like? Or could it be being targeted by others without your knowledge?

When deer stop using part of any of my perms is because something has changed - one year a farmer added a chalk or lime wash to his silage grass and the deer hated it and wouldn’t feed off that area until it had grown out. Same goes for grass which has had a muck spreader over it - they give it a wide berth until it’s rained in.

Nope, it's the same grass just left to go to seed. Nothing direct drilled or changed. I know the farmer well and no one else is on there (behind a locked gate) and nothing sprayed or spread (other than muck which was months ago and happened previous years).

They are regularly found 2 fields away on some grass the cattle grazed hard until late autumn and there's been little growth since. Bit of a puzzler but something on there they don't like.

 

[TringSaint]

Have you tried putting some aniseed blocks or another attractant to see if you can lure them in?

 

[jall55]

Nope, it's the same grass just left to go to seed. Nothing direct drilled or changed. I know the farmer well and no one else is on there (behind a locked gate) and nothing sprayed or spread (other than muck which was months ago and happened previous years).

They are regularly found 2 fields away on some grass the cattle grazed hard until late autumn and there's been little growth since. Bit of a puzzler but something on there they don't like.

Sorry mate - i think i misunderstood - its still just grass ?

 

[VSS]

I have seen exactly the same.
A large field that used to have two silage cuts each year, with a nice bit of autumn aftermath following the second cut, was an absolute magnet for deer (fallow) all through the winter. I shot most of my deer off that one field.
Now the field is in "conservation", only one silage cut taken, if that. Sometimes not cut at all. Grass very rank by the end of the summer, and unpalatable to deer. It doesn't draw anything like the number that it used to. Was getting fed up of blank outings in the end.

 

[75]

Sorry mate - i think i misunderstood - its still just grass ?

Yep, still just grass but left to go to seed to provide feed for the birds over winter etc. That's the puzzler - it's not been pulled up and re-drilled, just left to grow without taking a second cut.

Have you tried putting some aniseed blocks or another attractant to see if you can lure them in?

I can still shoot them in the other fields around there I'm just a bit perplexed why they don't like the same grass, same field now it's undisturbed and longer vegetation. I thought the whole SFI thing was supposed to promote wildlife

 

[TringSaint]

I have seen exactly the same.
A large field that used to have two silage cuts each year, with a nice bit of autumn aftermath following the second cut, was an absolute magnet for deer (fallow) all through the winter. I shot most of my deer off that one field.
Now the field is in "conservation", only one silage cut taken, if that. Sometimes not cut at all. Grass very rank by the end of the summer, and unpalatable to deer. It doesn't draw anything like the number that it used to.

Go and buy some Lucerne or vetch seeds and broadcast them onto the field - the deer on one of my perms can’t get enough of that stuff!!

 

[TringSaint]

Yep, still just grass but left to go to seed to provide feed for the birds over winter etc. That's the puzzler - it's not been pulled up and re-drilled, just left to grow without taking a second cut.


I can still shoot them in the other fields around there I'm just a bit perplexed why they don't like the same grass, same field now it's undisturbed and longer vegetation. I thought the whole SFI thing was supposed to promote wildlife

That is a bit odd, although I don’t see the deer in my perms eating the grass in the stewardship areas (it’s not great quality stuff and is probably mouldy at the bottom) more sitting in it ruminating. They have lots of lovely silage grass, Lucerne and maize to munch on so they mainly go for that.

 

[nun_hunter]

I'd imagine it's the same as us preferring to eat some fresh petit pois rather than some old stringy broad beans. Also I believe that the protein content is higher in fresh, growing green grass and not dry grass that's already preparing for winter.

 

[jall55]

Yep, still just grass but left to go to seed to provide feed for the birds over winter etc. That's the puzzler - it's not been pulled up and re-drilled, just left to grow without taking a second cut.


I can still shoot them in the other fields around there I'm just a bit perplexed why they don't like the same grass, same field now it's undisturbed and longer vegetation. I thought the whole SFI thing was supposed to promote wildlife

It sounds a bit strange 75
What we do with our HLS grass is cut it later once its gone to seed - to all the wildflower seeds to then spread and have sunlight - I have not heard of a scheme where its just left to essentially die and then rot ?
As nun hunter says the new shoots once it was cut would be far more tender and sweet

 

[Rhodesianjess]

I mow the rides in the majority of the woods on this estate, I've found that the deer seem to graze on them at all hours of the day.
Doubtless they provide some of the sustenance they require, it's rare that I don't see deer on a ride,head down and grazing away.
Plus the boss doesn't need to wear wellies when he goes for a walk around
Not to lawn type length but once it gets 8/9 inches high I knock it back as low as the mower will permit.

 

[75]

It sounds a bit strange 75
What we do with our HLS grass is cut it later once its gone to seed - to all the wildflower seeds to then spread and have sunlight - I have not heard of a scheme where its just left to essentially die and then rot ?
As nun hunter says the new shoots once it was cut would be far more tender and sweet

This is the key bit folk are going for around here (underlined at the end):

SFI actions for farmland wildlife and habitats on grassland​

Options CIGL1, CIGL2, and CIGL3 under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) all focus on managing grassland to support biodiversity, protect soil health, and improve water quality. While all three options aim to enhance environmental stewardship, CIGL1 and CIGL3 emphasise habitat creation and water quality protection, whereas CIGL2 specifically targets food provision for birds during winter.

By leaving certain areas of grassland, such as field corners or blocks, out of active management, to encourage tussocky grass to grow, or allowing grassland to go to seed during the autumn and winter, farmers can provide year-round habitat for a variety of wildlife, including insects and small mammals.