What is GLM8 – and what does it have to do with pollinator fallow?
GLM8 (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 8) is one of the requirements farmers must meet to receive direct payments under the EU's agricultural support. The condition requires that a proportion of agricultural land is set aside for non-productive areas or elements – including buffer zones, marginal strips, and fences.
Sown fallow can meet the GLM8 requirement because a fallow area with an approved flower mixture counts as non-productive land. This allows the farmer to place their obligatory fallow in a location that benefits nature and wildlife at the same time, rather than having empty bare fallow land.
What does GLM8 pollinator fallow specifically require?
- The area must constitute the required proportion of the land block (the percentage requirement is set annually by the Danish Agency for Agriculture).
- The fallow area must not be cultivated, sprayed or fertilised during the specified period.
- A seed mixture that meets the requirements for pollinator fallow must be used.
- The area is reported for the correct purpose in IMK (Internet Field Map) when applying for basic payment.
The bio-order “Biodiversity and Sustainability”
In addition to the basic payment, pollinator set-aside can be combined with the voluntary eco-scheme “Biodiversity and Sustainability”, where you can apply for an extra subsidy for areas that actively promote biodiversity.
| Element | Facts |
|---|---|
| Extra subsidy rate (bio-scheme) | 2,740 kr./ha |
| Further additions for pollinator fallow | 1,500 kr/ha |
Please note: Subsidy rates are set annually by the Danish Agricultural Agency and may change. The application deadline is typically in April – always check the current rates and conditions for the current year.
What plants belong in a pollinator mix?
A good pollinator mixture combines fast-establishing annual species with perennial herbs and legumes, so the area flowers widely from early summer to autumn:
- Phacelia – very attractive to bees, fast establishment
- Cornflower and bindweed fast-germinating annuals, early cover
- Red clover and hop clover – perennial legumes, nitrogen-fixing, long flowering
- Chicory – heathland, good on dry soils and for game
- Buckwheat – fast-growing annual with intense flower clusters
- Wild carrot and caraway – flowering plants, beneficial to hoverflies and butterflies
Faunamaster offers a dedicated pollinator seed mix, formulated specifically for these purposes. See the current formulation in the webshop.
Practical sowing guide
- Preparation Choose areas with low weed competition, preferably lighter soil. Plough or till in March–April, let weed seeds germinate for a couple of weeks, and treat lightly again.
- Sowing time: Spring sowing (April-May) is recommended. The warmer the soil, the faster the germination. Annuals such as phacelia and buckwheat can be sown until June.
- Sowing Pollinator mixes have a low seeding rate (often 8–15 kg/ha). Incorporate not the seed too deep – most flower seeds should only be covered with 0.5–1 cm of soil. An ATV-mounted seeder like Faunamaster S105 doses precisely at low speed and can work in areas a tractor cannot reach.
- Post-processing: Rolling after sowing improves soil-seed contact. Avoid heavy watering – most species are drought tolerant.
- Care A pollinator plot can last 2–3 years, but should be renewed when perennial species thin out and weeds become dominant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can all farmers fulfil GLM8 with pollinator fallow?
Yes, as long as the area is reported correctly in the IMK and meets the Danish AgriFish Agency's requirements for the seed mixture. Check the current guidelines every year, as the rules may be adjusted.
Can pollinator fallow be combined with wild oats?
Yes. A flowery pollinator mix is a good supplement to cereal-based game cover crops – the insects provide a food source for game birds and small game, while the game cover crops provide seeds and cover. Feel free to combine the two along the field edge.
Are there requirements for the seed mixture?
Yes – the Danish AgriFish Agency states that the mix must contain a certain proportion of relevant pollinating flower species. Always use a documented mix that meets the current requirements.
When is the application deadline?
Applications are made via the Danish AgriFish Agency as part of the basic payment application, typically in April. Check the current deadline for the current year.
Can I use an ATV seeder for pollinator fallow land?
Absolutely. An ATV/UTV-mounted seed drill like the S105 or S180 is particularly well-suited for strips and irregular areas where a tractor is cumbersome – and provides precise seeding without unnecessarily compacting the soil.
Getting started with pollinator pastures
Do you want to establish a pollinator habitat that meets the GLM8 requirement and strengthens biodiversity? Faunamaster has Seed mixture And seed drill to work. See the full range at shop.faunamaster.com.