Spain allocates 180,000 euros to sainfoin cultivation

The Aragón Rural Development Program (PDR), within its agri-environmental measures, includes the cultivation of "esparceta", which promotes the implantation of this legume in dry arable lands. Its environmental contribution is important: it favors the biodiversity of habitats as it is a multi-year forage and improves soil fertility due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This crop has valuable qualities as fodder, either in the form of mowed hay or consumed by cattle grazing. The main commitments are: not to carry out grazing or work on the plot in the month of May as it is a time of reproduction for species of steppe fauna and to carry out a single annual harvest in the summer months, reducing affections for the fauna. The measure is easy to use for applicants, with a persistence of four years, which reduces expenses for the farmer compared to an annual crop. In the 2020 campaign, the measure covers a total of 340 single application files and a global payment amount of ...