Organic Farming Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Regulation 4(2)

SCHEDULE 1 Calculation of Aid

Part I Payment in respect of an organic parcel

1.  AAPS eligible land and permanent crops:

(a) in the first year	£225 per hectare
(b) in the second year	£135 per hectare
(c) in the third year	£50 per hectare
(d) in the fourth year	£20 per hectare
(e) in the fifth year	£20 per hectare

2.  Other improved land:

(a) in the first year	£175 per hectare
(b) in the second year	£105 per hectare
(c) in the third year	£40 per hectare
(d) in the fourth year	£15 per hectare
(e) in the fifth year	£15 per hectare

3.  Unimproved land:

(a) in the first year	£25 per hectare
(b) in the second year	£10 per hectare
(c) in the third year	£5 per hectare
(d) in the fourth year	£5 per hectare
(e) in the fifth year	£5 per hectare

In Part I of this Schedule—

“AAPS eligible land” means land which is “eligible land” within the meaning of the Arable Area Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997(1);

“heath” means an area of grass, shrubs or trees on acidic, sandy soil;

“the maximum quantities”, in relation to inorganic fertilisers, means, in the case of nitrogen, 75 kilograms per hectare, in the case of the phosphate fertiliser P₂O₅, 35 kilograms per hectare, and, in the case of the potassium fertiliser K₂O, 35 kilograms per hectare, and, in relation to organic fertilisers, means 25 tonnes per hectare;

“moorland” means land covered by semi-natural upland vegetation;

“other improved land” means any land other than AAPS eligible land, land planted to permanent crops or unimproved land;

“permanent crops” means any crops which occupy the soil for a period of five years or more and yield crops over several years; and

“unimproved land” means—

(a)

moorland and heath; and

(b)

other land used for grazing which in the five years preceding 2001 has received total applications of less than the respective maximum quantities of inorganic fertilisers and less than the maximum quantities of organic fertilisers, and which is not AAPS eligible land.

Part II Payment in respect of the organic unit as a whole

in the first year	£300 per organic unit
in the second year	£200 per organic unit
in the third year	£100 per organic unit

Regulation 5(2)(b)(ii) and (v)

SCHEDULE 2 Standards to be observed

1.  The beneficiary shall not plough, reseed or improve, by use of drainage, manures or liming agents, any heathland, grassland of conservation value, including species-rich grassland, or rough grazing. The beneficiary shall not graze any such semi-natural habitats so as to cause poaching, over-grazing or under-grazing affecting the conservation value of such habitats.

2.  The beneficiary shall avoid localised heavy stocking in the nesting season on areas of semi-natural vegetation, including heathland, species-rich grassland and rough grazing.

3.  The beneficiary shall not carry out field operations, such as harrowing and rolling, on species-rich grassland or rough grazing during the nesting season.

4.  The beneficiary shall not cultivate or apply fertilisers to the land within 1 metre of any boundary features, such as fences, hedges or walls.

5.  The beneficiary shall retain traditional farm boundary features, for example hedges and walls. He shall carry out hedge-trimming in rotation, but not between 1st March and 31st August. The beneficiary shall maintain any stockproof boundaries, using traditional methods and materials.

6.  Ditch maintenance shall be carried out in rotation, but not between 1st March and 31st August.

7.  The beneficiary shall maintain streams, ponds and wetland areas.

8.  The beneficiary shall retain any copses, farm woodlands or groups of trees.

9.  The beneficiary shall ensure that in farming the land he does not damage, destroy or remove any feature of historical or archeological interest, including areas of ridge and furrow.

10.  The beneficiary shall abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of Soil, Air and Water(2) and Good Farming Practice for the Environment(3) published by the Department.

(1)

S.R. 1997 No. 477 amended by S.R. 1998 No. 308 and S.R. 1999 No. 120

(2)

Soil, 1995 ISBN 1 85527 159 1; Air 1995 ISBN 1 85527 160 5, 1995 ISBN 1 85527 161 3; Water 1991 ISBN 1 85527 057 9, 1991 ISBN 1 85527 059 5, 1993 ISBN 1 85527 112 5, 1993 ISBN 1 85527 115, 1994 ISBN 1 85527 114 1, 1996 ISBN 1 85527 246 6, 1999 ISBN 1 85572 351 9, 1999 ISBN 1 85527 361 6

(3)

Good Farming Practice for the Environment, ISBN 1 85527 472 8