Amendment to option 51 (management of cropped machair)42
In option 51 (management of cropped machair)—
a
in column 2, in paragraph (2)(a), after “fallow” insert “and the site may be sown to an arable crop for up to two consecutive years”;
b
in column 2, in paragraph (2)(b), after “crop” insert “in the second year (where it applies)”;
c
in column 2, in paragraph (2) for sub-paragraph (d) substitute—
d
does not cultivate to a depth of more than 150 millimetres and where cultivation does not exceed 100 millimetres, a supplementary premium will be paid;
d
in column 2, omit paragraph (2)(e);
e
in column 2, paragraph (2)(f) after “site” 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”;
f
in column 2, after paragraph (3) insert—
4
Where the area has been managed as cropped machair under a previous agri-environment scheme, annual payments will be made in arrears across the whole area of cropped machair (whether in crop or laying fallow) from the first year.
5
Otherwise, annual payments may commence at the end of the year in which the site is first sown down to spring crop, then annually thereafter for the balance of the five year undertaking.
g
in column 3, after “stacks, per hectare per year” insert “, £31 per hectare per year supplement when all ploughing is undertaken by a shallow cultivation depth of 100 millimetres, and £41 supplement per beneficiary per year when sharing equipment for shallow cultivation.”.