The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2003

Title, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2003 and shall come into force on 12th September 2003.

(2) Any reference in this Order to a Community instrument is a reference to that instrument and any amendment of such instrument in force on the date this Order is made.

(3) In this Order—

“Council Regulation 2529/01” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2529/01 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat(1);

“Council Regulation 1251/99” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1251/99 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops(2);

“Council Regulation 1254/99” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1254/99 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal(3).

Assessment of productive capacity of land

2.—(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article have effect for the purpose of the assessment of the productive capacity of a unit of agricultural land situated in England, in order to determine whether that unit is a commercial unit of agricultural land within the meaning of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

(2) Where the land in question is capable, when farmed under competent management, of being used to produce any livestock, crop, fruit or miscellaneous product as is mentioned in any of the entries 1 to 6 in column 1 of the Schedule to this Order, then—

(a) the unit of production prescribed in relation to that use of the land shall be the unit in the entry in column 2 of that Schedule opposite to that entry, and

(b) the amount determined, for the period of 12 months beginning with 12th September 2003, as the net annual income from that unit of production in that period shall be the amount in the entry in column 3 of that Schedule opposite to that entry as read with any relevant note to that Schedule.

(3) Where land capable, when farmed under competent management, of producing a net annual income is in receipt of hill farm allowance or is designated as set aside land, as is mentioned in entries 7 and 8 in column 1 of the Schedule to this Order, then—

(a) the unit of production prescribed in relation to that use of the land shall be the unit in the entry in column 2 of that Schedule opposite to that entry, and

(b) the amount determined, for the period of 12 months beginning with 12th September 2003, as the net annual income from that unit of production in that period shall be the amount in the entry in column 3 of that Schedule opposite to that entry.

Revocation

3.  The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2002(4) is revoked.

Whitty

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

19th August 2003