Enlish set-aside reminder

ENGLISH LIVESTOCK producers should remember that they are required to set-aside land against temporary grassland for the first time this year under single farm payment rules.

According to DEFRA”s Set-Aside Handbook, set-aside land must be established by and have a green cover established on it by Jan 15, either through sowing or by natural regeneration.

Temporary grassland includes land currently growing temporary grass, but which has been included in an arable rotation in the past five years. The arable rotation includes grass counted as set-aside in 2003 and 2004.

English producers outside the upland severely disadvantaged area need to set-aside 8% of arable land, while those inside need to set-aside 1.3% of arable land, says DEFRA.