Area aid sowing deadline stretched again

By FWi staff

ARABLE farmers now have until 15 June to sow cereal and linseed crops on which they have claimed arable area aid, says the ministry.

This follows a decision by the European Commission, which had already extended the sowing date deadline to 31 May, and marks the extra full month which the ministry had originally requested. The leeway has been welcomed by the NFU.

“This extension is greatly needed by growers who are still trying to overcome problems caused by last autumns heavy rains,” says president Ben Gill.

Crops grown on set-aside land for non-food use can be sown until 30 June, the ministry advises.