Cross-compliance guide on way

FARMERS IN England will shortly receive a handbook outlining cross-compliance requirements for 2005 and a separate booklet on the Single Payment Scheme.

The government has announced that the “highly-detailed” information guides will be sent out from Monday (Dec 6).

The cross-compliance guide cover issues such the timing of hedge-cutting and under what circumstances can farmers carry out mechanical operations on waterlogged land.

The handbook is likely to be accompanied by a publication called Farming Link which is aimed at farmers and growers and is about DEFRA‘s activities.

In a statement DEFRA said that more information would also be mailed out at the end of December.

Farmers can expect a set-aside handbook and more cross-compliance guidance which will be directed at soil and habitat management.