PRF2 — Camera or remote sensor guided herbicide spraying

This action’s aim is that camera or remote sensing guided technology is used to apply systemic herbicides to control weeds, so they’re targeted precisely. The purpose of this is to: - reduce the volume of herbicide applied - increase biodiversity - improve water quality, soil quality and productivity - support an integrated pest management approach

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: - receiving systemic herbicides to control weeds which camera or remote sensing guided technology can recognise - an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 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 Camera recognition is currently available for: - docks and nettles in grass or leys containing clover - all weeds in maize - certain crops grown on wide row spacings (such as potatoes) - stubbles – where there’s green growth Remote sensing technology uses artificial intelligence to recognise target weeds. 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 grassland – improved and low input | Permanent grassland | PG01 | Permanent crops | Permanent crops | Land use codes for permanent crops |

You must apply systemic (contact) herbicides on land entered into this action using camera or remote sensing technology that: - identifies specific weeds to be controlled - automatically switches on individual nozzles to apply the herbicides directly to the identified weeds Systemic herbicides kill the whole weed, from leaf to root. You must only carry out a ‘blanket’ application of herbicides if you’re applying: - glyphosate to destroy a cover crop or create a stale seedbed before drilling - residual herbicides before sown crop plants or weeds emerge (‘pre-emergence’) – this can be at the same time the crop is established (drilled or planted) or within a few days of establishment - pre-harvest herbicide or desiccant to combinable crops A ‘blanket’ application means you apply herbicides uniformly across an area, rather than targeting the application to identified weeds.

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

You must follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must.’ You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: - ‘as applied’ data, such as a map showing where individual nozzles switch on to apply herbicide - a record of any permitted blanket application of herbicide, including the date it was applied - contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action If it’s not clear that you’ve 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.