| Page Title | | Date of Update | | Update Made |
| Option 7 – Access creation for sustainable forest management | | Mar 2012 | | Amended to confirm that own labour and machinery costs are not eligible for payment. |
| Option 17 – Retention of winter stubbles | | Mar 2012 | | Amended to confirm that under-sowing is not to be undertaken. |
| Option 21 – Management of sites of archaeological or historic interest | | Mar 2012 | | Amended to remove the following actions: grazing control; cultivation buffer zones; cropmark sites. |
| Accredited Vets List | | Mar 2012 | | Updated to show the practice names only. |
| Codes and payment rates for AWMP | | Mar 2012 | | Amended to show that pneumonia is for cattle only, and that the preventing lameness specific action has a separate code for cattle. |
| Data Protection | | Mar 2012 | | Updated to reflect recent legal base. |
| Freedom of Information | | Mar 2012 | | Updated to reflect recent legal base. |
| Change to the legal framework | | Mar 2012 | | Further information is provided on the what’s new page |
| Option 9 - Wild bird seed mix/unharvested crop | | Mar 2011 | | Confirms that you can change the location of the plots. Application of pesticides to control injurious weeds and non-native invasive species can only be carried out with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers. |
| Option 11, Summer cattle grazing | | Mar 2011 | | Payment rate increased to £1.95 per hectare per year. |
| Option 13, Management of linear features | | Mar 2011 | | At 'Hedgerows and hedgerows trees' new requirement added to cut a different section of hedge each year so that all hedges are cut in rotation. |
| Option 14, Management of grass margins and beetlebanks in arable fields | | Mar 2011 | | Amended as follows: - new payment rate of £407.92 per hectare per year for management only of previously established grass margins/beetlebanks. If not already present in the strip, you must sow at least one species of nectar-feeding plant such as red clover
- where the strip is to benefit hen harriers etc the minimum width has been reduced from 6 metres to 3 metres
- the requirement to create a sterile strip has been removed
- the control of injurious weeds and non-native invasive species can only be carried out with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers
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| Option 16, Management of conservation headlands | | Mar 2011 | | Under 'What you must do', pesticides including fungicides can only be applied with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers |
| Option 17, Retention of winter stubbles | | Mar 2011 | | Under 'What you must do', new requirement not to apply pre-harvest desiccants. The herbicides and insecticides requirement has been replaced by 'you must not apply post-harvest pesticides without the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers...'. |
| Option 21, Active management to improve the condition of sites of archaeological or historic interest, and Option 22, Active management to improve the condition of vernacular rural buildings | | Mar 2011 | | Amended as follows: - own labour or own machinery costs can no longer be claimed under this option (applicants for LMO 2010 can still claim these costs)
- photographs of each site must be taken prior to work being carried out, and again 1 year, 3 years and 5 years after completion
- additional ineligible work specified under 'Eligibility criteria'
For option 22, under 'Inspections/verification', works funded under this option must be maintained and not modified, nor sold or used for human habitation for 5 years following payment. |
| Option 23, Animal Welfare Management Programme | | Mar 2011 | | PDF version of the guidance has been amended at: 'Specific actions to improve welfare' - addition highlighting that changes to chosen specific actions cannot be implemented mid year. 'Maintaining bodily condition', the recommended range for lowland ewes at lambing has been amended to '2.5-3.0'. 'Control and prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia', (lung work surveillance programme) - the requirement for a monthly bulk milk antibody check has been removed, and the faecal sampling requirement revised. 'Liver fluke control', new requirement -you must carry out an annual evaluation with your vet of the effectiveness of treatment...based on faecal sampling and abattoir feedback. |
| Option 24, Natural regeneration after cereals | | Mar 2011 | | New option for LMO 2011 |
| Option 25, Maintenance of organic farming | | Mar 2011 | | New option for LMO 2011 |
| Option 23, Animal Welfare Management Programme | | Jan 2011 | | 'Confirmation of annual review form' available to download from the LMO website. You must submit this form with your claim for payment in years 2-5 of your commitment. |
| Option 4 - Modernisation through electronic data management for agriculture | | Oct 2010 | | At 'Eligibility criteria', new bullet point highlighting that purchased equpment must be in the full ownership of the claimant. |
| Option 19 - Management of small woodlands | | Oct 2010 | | At 'Eligibility criteria', FWPS (Farm Woodland Premium Scheme) added to list of grant schemes which are not compatible with this option. |
| Option 17 - Retention of Winter Stubbles | | Apr 2010 | | From LMO 2010, due to double funding issues, this option cannot be adopted on an area of land receiving organic maintenance payments under either the Organic Aid Scheme or Rural Priorities. The last sentence at 'Eligibility criteria' has been expanded accordingly. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme | | Apr 2010 | | PDF version of the guidance (15 pages) has been amended at: 'Control and prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia' - opening sentence highlights that this specific action is for cattle only. 'Johne's disease control' - minor clarification of the terms 'housed calves' and 'young stock'. 'Control of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)' - the requirement to screen purchased pregnant animals for BVD antibodies has been strengthened. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme FAQs | | Apr 2010 | | FAQ5 - Eligibility - goats - 'control and prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia' removed from list of specific actions that goat only producers could choose, as this specific action applies to cattle only. FAQ8 - Eligibility - common grazing - 'liver fluke' removed from list of specific actions that could be significantly compromised by mixing with other livestock. |
| Option 2 - Business audit and Option 3 - Nutrient Management Plan | | Mar 2010 | | These options are no longer available through Land Managers Options. Those who applied for these options in 2009 will be paid following submission of eligble claim forms. |
| Legal base | | Jan 2010 | | Addition of references to EC Regulation 73/2009 and to the Rural Development Contracts (Land Managers Options) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. |
| Codes and payment rates | | Jan 2010 | | New quick guide to LMO option codes and payment rate tables. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme | | Dec 2009 | | PDF version of the guidance (15 pages) has been amended at: 'Liver fluke control' - change in requirement from 'do not use' to 'avoid using' in paragraph on identifying high risk areas of grazing ground. Also deletion of paragraph on identifying fluke free pasture on the basis of faecal sampling results. 'Johne's disease control' - the statements 'Not graze weaned young stock ... where adults have grazed' and 'Not co-graze ... livestock that can carry Johne's disease infection' have been qualified with the addition of the words 'in the same season'. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme FAQs | | Dec 2009 | | Preventing lameness - FAQ 19 amended to make clear that producers can choose which species requires this action i.e a minimum of one or two species depending on the annual payment rate chosen. Liver fluke control - FAQ 23 amended to reflect change in guidance detailed above. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme | | Sept 2009 | | PDF version of the guidance (15 pages) has been amended at: 'Annual Monitoring and benchmarking' - benchmarking guidance to be issued in Autumn 2009. Recording of data to begin January 2010. 'Annual Management Plan' - in year one, recommend completion of producer/vet declaration form. Implementing biosecurity' - consider pre-purchase sampling in absence of a relevant accreditation scheme, and expansion of bullet point on blood sampling for key diseases. 'Reducing mutilations in sheep' - first para explains why this action may not be suitable for sheep held on common ground, also expansion of 'You must' section. 'Preventing lameness' - expanded description of what constitutes 'physical foot inspection'. 'Liver fluke control' - expansion of paragraphs on identifying high risk areas and documenting fields taken out of use. 'Johne's disease control' - first paragraph states this action is not suitable for livestock on common ground unless other owners also taking this activity. Also expansion of paragraphs on CHeCS approved schemes, and calves/colostrom. 'Control of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)' - first paragraph states this action is not suitable for livestock on common ground unless other owners also taking this activity. Also expansion of last paragraph on minimum livestock numbers for sampling. In addition, a number of minor clarifications have been made to the document. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme FAQs | | Sept 2009 | | New FAQS added and some existing FAQS updated as a result of amendments to the guidance detailed above - Sept 2009. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme FAQS | | June 2009 | | At 'Eligibility', new FAQ added on whether all livestock on farm must be included in the option. |
| Claims and payments | | June 2009 | | At 'Claims', additional sentence highlighting EC requirement for a full administrative documentation check. Also minor consequential amendment to second paragraph. |
| Protected species | | June 2009 | | New page on the need to consider the potential impact of activities on protected species and links to sources of advice. |
| Option 9 - Wild Bird Seed Mix/Unharvested Crop | | May 2009 | | At 'Eligibility criteria', the sentence "You can change the location of the plots ......." has been deleted. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme FAQs | | May 2009 | | New page of FAQs added. |
| Option 8 - Membership of food quality assurance schemes | | April 2009 | | 3 new quality assurance schemes added for LMO 2009. |
| Option 23 - Animal Welfare Management Programme | | April 2009 | | New option for LMO 2009. |
| Option 3 - Nutrient Management Plan | | Mar 2009 | | At 'What you must do', the reference to set-aside has been deleted. |
| Option 9 - Wild Bird Seed Mix/Unharvested Crop | | Mar 2009 | | At 'Eligibility criteria', the sentence on set-aside has been deleted. |
| Option 21 - Active management to improve the condition of sites of archaeological or historic interest | | Mar 2009 | | 1. Minor textual amendments. 2. Expansion of bullet points on Bracken Control and control of Gorse, rhododendron etc. |
| Option 22 - Active management to improve the condition of vernacular rural buildings | | Mar 2009 | | 1. At 'What this is about' and 'What you must do', clarification of the type of management works and repairs which can be funded under this option. 2. Addition of a number of web links to Historic Scotland leaflets and guidance. |
| Claims and payments | | Mar 2009 | | 1. Minor textual corrections. 2. At 'Supporting Information for Claim', we highlight that claimants no longer need to complete a claim form for Option 8 - Membership of food quality assurance schemes. We will check with the eligible organisations listed in your application form to confirm membership. |
| Breaches and penalties | | Jan 2009 | | Detailed guidance now available. |
| Common grazings | | Jan 2009 | | Addition of proviso that LMO applications from common grazing committees must have the consent of the majority of their members. |
| Financial limits | | Jan 2009 | | New section explaining total funding available to applicants for the use of advisory services under Land Managers Options and Rural Priorities. |
| Record keeping | | Jan 2009 | | Corrects the period records must be retained, from 4 to 6 years. |
| Minimum Level of Grazing | | Jan 2009 | | Lists options that the minimum stocking density applies to. |
| Option compatibilities | | Jan 2009 | | Detailed guidance now available. |
| Option 2 - Business audit | | Jan 2009 | | Deletion of reference to the Small Business Advice Service. |
| Option 3 - Nutrient Management Plan | | Jan 2009 | | At 'Eligibility criteria', we have clarified that where part of a farm is in an NVZ area and part is outside, an application under this option can be made for the land outwith the NVZ. |
| Option 4 - Modernisation through electronic data management for Agriculture | | Jan 2009 | | 1. Further clarification provided on equipment that can be purchased. 2. Confirms that electronic ear tags and steering systems are not eligible. |
| Option 8 - Membership of food quality assurance schemes | | Jan 2009 | | Applicant no longer required to submit proof of membership/payment. We will check with eligible organisations direct. |
| Option 9 - Wild Bird Seed Mix/Unharvested Crop | | Jan 2009 | | Confirms that you can change the location of the plots during your contract but the overall area applied for must be maintained for the full five years. |
| Option 14 - Management of Grass Margins and Beetlebanks in Arable Fields | | Jan 2009 | | At 'What you must do', we have highlighted that the diffuse pollution and environmental audits must be carried out by the start of the 5-year agreement. |
| Option 16 - Management of Conservation Headlands | | Jan 2009 | | At, 'What you must do', we have clarified that the conservation headland must go all the way around the field. |
| Option 18 - Small-scale woodland creation | | Jan 2009 | | 1. Clarification of the minimum gap required between woodland plots to qualify as separate woodland. 2. Addition of table listing acceptable native species for this option. |
| Option 20 - Improving access | | Jan 2009 | | 1. Requirement to seek the written agreement of the local access officer for installation of stiles, highlighted in the 'What you must do' section. 2. At 'Technical specifications', section 4, text revised to confirm that fingerposts must always specify a destination. |
| Option 21 - Active management to improve the condition of sites of archaeological or historic interest | | Jan 2009 | | 1. Text on maintenance of a photographic record moved from 'Inspections/verification' to 'What you must do'. 2. Skilled labour rate of £7.82 specified in 'What costs could be supported'. |
| Option 22 - Active management to improve the condition of vernacular rural buildings | | Jan 2009 | | 1. Text on maintenance of a photographic record moved from 'Inspections/verification' to 'What you must do'. 2. Skilled labour rate of £7.82 specified in 'What costs could be supported'. 3. Correction to 'Inspections/verification' to confirm that inspector will check the work carried out is the same as detailed on the claim form. |