Making your CSAM3 herbal ley work harder

For farmers who secured an agreement in the latest application window, the payment has fallen from £382/ha to £224/ha. Existing agreements with an active CSAM3 claim from previous funding rounds will continue to receive their agreed rate.

With margins under pressure, it makes sense to look beyond the payment itself and consider what a mixture can deliver for the farm. A well-chosen herbal ley can do more than meet scheme requirements: it can improve forage production and quality, support livestock performance and help maintain grazing through challenging weather.

As Hayley Wellings, our forage seed specialist, explains, the key is to choose a mixture that works for your farming system, not simply one that ticks the right boxes.

Look beyond compliance

To meet CSAM3 requirements, a mixture must contain one grass species, two legumes and two herbs or wildflower species. Our Field Options range includes several mixtures that meet these requirements.

But not all mixtures offer the same benefits.

Herbal leys can provide a nutrient-rich, balanced forage source for livestock. Legumes contribute valuable protein and fix nitrogen in the soil, while herbs such as chicory and plantain have properties that may help reduce livestock worm burdens.

The right mixture can therefore contribute to both forage quality and farm productivity, as well as meeting the requirements of the scheme.

Building resilience into your grassland

Weather resilience is another important consideration when selecting a mixture, particularly after recent seasons have highlighted how prolonged dry periods can affect grassland production.

Different grass species, herbs and legumes root at different depths, helping plants access moisture and nutrients from across the soil profile. This diversity can help maintain growth during dry conditions and support recovery when moisture returns.

There are clear differences between mixtures, too. Our Field Options Preference Herbal mixture offers the benefits of a herbal ley, while Eco Pasture combines perennial ryegrasses with more drought-tolerant grasses, including cocksfoot, timothy and fescues, alongside herbs and legumes.

This wider range of species provides different rooting characteristics and can help extend the growing window. Nitrogen-fixing legumes also contribute to soil fertility and can support recovery following dry weather.

The results from our trials demonstrate the potential difference. During the dry 2025 season, Eco Pasture produced 1.46 tonnes of dry matter per hectare more than Preference Herbal.

That additional forage can make a meaningful difference when every tonne counts.

Make the most of your reseeding investment

Reseeding is a significant investment. A full ploughed reseed can cost in the region of £900/ha, so it is worth thinking carefully about the return you want from it.

Seed makes up only a relatively small proportion of the overall cost. Choosing a mixture solely on its initial price could mean missing out on benefits that matter over the life of the ley.

Instead, consider what you need the new sward to deliver. Is your priority to improve forage quality, extend the grazing season, increase production during dry weather or support livestock performance? The answer will help determine which mixture is best suited to your farm.

With reduced CSAM3 payments, the focus should be on getting more value from every hectare — both through the scheme and through the contribution the ley makes to your wider farming business.

Choose a mixture that works for your farm

CSAM3 can be an opportunity to improve grassland as well as meet SFI requirements. The important thing is to select a mixture that fits your soil, livestock and farming system, while delivering benefits beyond the payment.

Speak to your local ProCam agronomist or forage seed specialist to discuss your CSAM3 options and find the right Field Options mixture for your farm. We can help you look beyond compliance and choose a ley designed to deliver lasting value.