JONATHAN ARMITAGE of rural consultant Strutt & Parker has hit out at DEFRA‘s decision to classify set-aside that has been under grass for five years as permanent pasture.
 
This would place restrictions on agricultural operations, like ploughing, and alternative land would also have to be found to satisfy set-aside requirements, said Mr Armitage.

The decision was at odds with EU rules that stated any land in set-aside was still classified as being under arable production, he said.
 
Farmers with set-aside that has been under grass for four years needed to be careful, Mr Armitage added.

“Most won‘t want their set-aside caught up in these restrictions and will plough it up instead.”