SFI Companion Cropping with Buckwheat - Boosting Oilseed Rape Resilience

Buckwheat establishes quickly and is typically destroyed by the first frost or sprayed off before harvest, leaving OSR to mature as the primary cash crop.

Key Benefits for Oilseed Rape

Pest Suppression: Buckwheat’s rapid canopy development and distinctive scent help disguise young OSR plants from cabbage stem flea beetle, reducing feeding damage and egg laying during establishment.
Phosphorus Mobilisation: The buckwheat root system releases organic acids that unlock bound soil phosphorus, improving nutrient availability for OSR and supporting stronger early growth.
Weed Suppression: Its quick ground cover competes effectively with weeds, lowering the need for herbicide applications and reducing input costs.
Microclimate Protection: A dense buckwheat canopy shields OSR seedlings from soil moisture loss and buffers against weather extremes, supporting more consistent establishment.

Building a More Resilient Cropping System

Beyond immediate crop benefits, buckwheat contributes to long-term soil health and system resilience. Its inclusion in the rotation promotes soil structure and microbial activity, while reducing reliance on fertiliser and chemical control. This diversity helps arable businesses adapt to pest pressures, fluctuating input costs, and increasingly variable weather.

Elliot Taylor, Partner and Farm Business Consultant, highlights the growing relevance of this approach.

“Companion cropping with buckwheat offers oilseed rape growers a practical, science backed way to improve establishment and reduce input risks. It’s a simple addition that strengthens both the crop and the wider farming system, making businesses more resilient to today’s agronomic and economic challenges”

By combining SFI support with the natural benefits of buckwheat, farmers can enhance OSR performance and profitability while moving toward more sustainable, future-proofed cropping strategies.

* The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) option Companion cropping (IPM3 / CIPM3) is part of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) actions.

Purpose

To reduce reliance on pesticides and fertilisers by using companion crops to naturally manage pests, weeds, and diseases.
Supports soil health, nutrient use efficiency, and biodiversity.

Requirements

Companion cropping means growing at least two different plant species together in the same field at the same time (e.g., clover with oilseed rape or peas with barley).
Crops must be chosen to:
- Suppress weeds.
- Deter pests or attract beneficial insects.
- Improve soil structure or nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen fixation).
Maintain the mix for the required growing period.

Payment Rate (2025)

£55 per hectare of companion-cropped area (latest rate under SFI Scheme).

Management Notes

Can be used in both arable and some mixed farming systems.
Companion species can be destroyed before harvest if needed, provided the primary crop remains compliant.
Record-keeping is required: crop mix details, sowing dates, and management actions.

For more information on how to make your arable system more resilient in these challenging times, contact the GFW Rural team. Rural – GFW