The Common Agricultural Policy (Direct Payments etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 2015

2.—(1) A farmer must—

(a) stock the land for a period or periods totalling not less than 183 days in any calendar year, in accordance with the minimum stocking density; or

(b) carry out an environmental assessment of the land in each calendar year which comprises—

(i) a map and description of the farm environment;

(ii) surveys of breeding birds, mammals, butterflies and plant health; and

(iii) monitoring of habitats.

(2) In this Part—

“dairy ring fence area” has the meaning given in Part 3 of this Schedule;

“livestock unit” means a unit of measurement of livestock numbers, and each of the following constitute one livestock unit—

(a)

one beef cow over 24 months of age;

(b)

1.66 beef cows over 20 months and up to and including 24 months of age;

(c)

within the dairy ring fence area, one dairy cow over 24 months of age;

(d)

within the dairy ring fence area, 1.66 dairy cows over 20 months and up to and including 24 months of age;

(e)

6.66 breeding ewes or gimmers;

(f)

6.66 breeding female goats kept as part of a regular breeding herd for fibre production;

(g)

3.33 breeding female farmed deer aged 27 months and over;

(h)

5 breeding female farmed deer aged over 6 months but less than 27 months of age; or

(i)

3.33 breeding female llamas kept as part of a regular breeding herd; and

“minimum stocking density” means—

(a)

a stocking density of 0.05 livestock units per hectare; or

(b)

a stocking density of less than 0.05 livestock units per hectare where the farmer can demonstrate that such a stocking density is appropriate for the land by reference to—

(i)

the historic records kept in respect of the carrying capacity of the holding; or

(ii)

an environmental management agreement which the farmer has entered into with Scottish Natural Heritage(1) or an agri-environment commitment to which the farmer is subject under Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) etc(2) or under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005(3).

(1)

Scottish Natural Heritage was established under section 1 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 (1991 c.28).

(2)

OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p.1, as last amended by Regulation (EU) No 1312/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 339, 21.12.2011, p.1). Regulation 1698/2005 was repealed subject to savings by Article 88 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.

(3)

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p.487, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 1310/2013 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p.865).