From 2009 the classification of set-aside will no longer be part of the EU Single Farm Payment scheme.  Although some alternative agri-environmental schemes are being considered by DEFRA for England, currently no options have been finalised.

Any land which remains non-cropped but is not in environmental or other schemes is classed as 'Land not in agricultural production'.  It must be kept in 'Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition' (GAEC), to be classed as agricultural and eligible for payment.  Full details are in the Cross Compliance Handbook sent to all farmers, and can be found on the Cross Compliance Website*.

 

The following table explains how Roundup can be used within these rules:

Rule	Land not in Agricultural Production - GAEC 12 (OT2)
Cover Requirement	'Establish and maintain a green cover, either through seeding or natural regeneration as soon as possible on or after March 1st following the date when the land cesased to be in agricultural production.**' However a cover is not required if any of the following apply: The land will be returned to agricultural production before 15th May You are taking steps to comply with GAEC 11*** You are managing the land to control infestations of Black-grass or Couch for the first 15 months.  Land must be recorded in the Soil Protection Review with appropriate soil protection measures identified and taken, and a cover established within the 15 month period
Type of Cover	Natural regeneration or any sown cover, there are no specifications.  It could be a proprietary cover mix, cereal or grass sweepings, mustard etc or volunteers from the previous crop, but it must not be harvested.  Sowing a cover crop rather than natural regeneration is desirable if land is to remain non-cropped beyond one season to prevent weed build-up and disease carry-over.
Cutting of Cover	Generally not allowed between 1st March and 31st July to protect ground nesting birds, with the following exceptions: As part of compliance with GAEC 11*** As part of management of Couch or Black-grass for the first 15 months Cutting scrub and cutting or grazing of rank vegetation must be done at least once every 5 years to prevent scrub development (no more that 50% to be cut in years 4 or 5).
Grazing of Cover	Allowed at any time, no restrictions.
Control of Weeds under GAEC 11***	Roundup can be used overall or as a spot treatment at any time.  If used overall the cover should be replaced if the land is to remain non-cropped for the following season.
Other Weed Control	Restrictions on use of herbicides on land managed as bare fallow in 2008 have been removed and replaced by the exceptions for cover requirement and cutting/ploughing control of infestations of Black-grass and Couch listed above.
Destruction of Cover	Preparation allowed before following crop.  No time limits defined.  Roundup can be used as part of the preparation in conjuction with ploughing or minimal cultivation.  Up to 3,600g ai if any single Roundup formulation can be used in one year under the field of use "green cover on land temporarily removed from production".

* For information in Scotland visit: www.scotland.gov.uk and Wales: www.countryside.wales.gov.uk

 

**Starts the day after the previous harvest or the end of compulsory set-aside period

 

***GAEC 11. 'You must: take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread in your land and on to adjoining land of 'injurious' weeds; Common Ragwort, Spear Thistle, Creeping (or Field) Thistle, Broad-leaved Dock and Curled Dock; and of the 'invasive' weeds; Rhododendron, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam.'