The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011

Amendment to option 18 (management of mown grassland for corn buntings)

18.  In option 18 (management of mown grassland for corn buntings)—

(a) in column 2, in paragraph (2) for sub-paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c) mows fields but mowing must be delayed until after—

(i) 24th July; in which case the rate of payment for Option 1 applies, or

(ii) 1st August where corncrakes are also present; in which case the rate of payment for Option 2 applies;”;

(b) in column 2, in paragraph (2)(f), after “strip” insert “except with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers for activities such as spot treatment of injurious weeds or control of invasive non-native species”;

(c) in column 2, after paragraph (2), insert—

“(3) Beneficiaries need not manage the same field each year where winter keep production is rotated around grassland area, but must give details of the different fields and their locations and their areas in the application for aid. If, during the relevant period, a different rotation to that originally approved is agreed with the Scottish Ministers, the area upon which the annual management payment is calculated will be restricted to either the originally approved area or the revised area, whichever is smaller.”; and

(d) in column 3, for “£224.48 per hectare per year” substitute “Option 1 - £216 per hectare per year. Option 2 – £ 224.48 per hectare per year.”.