This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Derogation to cut green cover
31/07/2006
Paragraph 17 of the Single Farm Payment Scheme Leaflet No. 6, about set-aside land, states that green cover on set-aside land must be cut between July 15 and August 15 or destroyed between July 15 and August 31.
SEERAD can confirm that, in view of the abnormal weather conditions and related fire risk arising from cutting, farmers can delay cutting up to August 31 where a fire risk exists Farmers who wish to make use of this derogation should e-mail or write to their Area Office to explain the nature of the fire risk e.g. because of standing crops, proximity to hedges etc and provide field identification numbers. Exceptionally in these circumstances, farmers may consider that the derogation has been granted unless SEERAD makes contact to confirm otherwise.
Requests have also been received to allow grazing on set-aside land. That can only be permitted with EU approval and an urgent case is being submitted to the European Commission.