Scottish Cross Compliance and NVZs

The 2015 cross-compliance changes for Scotland have been published. The rules come intoforce from 1^st January, key changes include;

• Zero-tolerance policy for overdue TB test; test overdue by 1 day will face penalties.
• There should be no cultivations or pesticide use within 2m of a watercourse (GAEC 1).  Under GAEC 7 the cultivation and application of fertilisers and pesticides within two metres of the centre line of hedges is not permitted
• The restriction on cutting hedges has been extended and now covers 1^st March to 31^st August.
• The burning of arable stubbles is not permitted (GAEC 6)

The full list of updates can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/grants/Schemes/Crosscompliancesection/CComplianceupdates

Following a public consultation, boundary changes have resulted in the removal of 2,212 farms from NVZ designated areas from 2^nd February 2015.  Two new NVZs have been identified in the review – Pilanton in South West Scotland and Finavon in Angus. The new designations, affecting around 130 farms, will come into effect in early 2016.  In total the changes reduce Scotland’s NVZ area by a quarter.  More detail (including maps) can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/Environment/NVZintro