Active Farmer Scotland

The Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) on CAP rules has been laid before Parliament, the SSI includes further details about Active Farmer rules, some of which has been previously published, we have laid out the full rules below.

For agricultural areas are deemed to be maintained in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation (payment region 1) a farmer must;

• take action to control injurious weeds and
• maintain access to those areas for livestock or machinery and
• maintain existing stock proof boundaries and water sources for livestock on permanent grassland and
• prevent the encroachment of scrub on arable land.

For agricultural areas naturally kept in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation, a farmer must;

• stock land for a period or periods of at least 183 days a year to a minimum stocking density or
• carry out and environmental assessment on the land each year, this must comprise of a description of the farm environment, a survey of breeding birds, mammals, butterflies and plant health and monitor of habitats. 

This environmental assessment seems an easy way to get around the Minimum Activity rules. Those who do not want to stock land for 183 days will simply carry out an environmental assessment once a year, or pay someone else to do it. The Scottish Government was aiming to rule out ‘slipper farmers’, we are not sure this will cut it!

The minimum stocking density is 0.05 livestock units per hectare or less if deemed appropriate. Farmers can demonstrate that a lower stocking density is appropriate by referring to historic records kept in respect of the carry capacity of the land or an environmental management agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage or agri-environment agreement.

A point of clarification has also come from the SSI, the ‘cropping period’ for Crop Diversification purposes is from1^st May to 30^th June.