Another month for harvest on set-aside

By FWi staff

CROPS still sitting on set-aside land may now be harvested up until 30 April, after a further derogation from Brussels.

Under normal circumstances, land intended for set-aside should have been cleared by 15 January, if farmers are not to risk losing their IACS payments.

Due to the wet weather, this cut-off date was initially extended to 31 March.

Continued sogginess has prompted a further extension to 30 April.

This gives farmers the option of putting such land into set-aside, though they could conceivably decide to drill it, so long as this takes place before the 15 May IACS deadline.

Farmers with crops still to harvest are asked to contact their regional service centres or local departmental offices.