ANNEX IX U.K. List of equivalent practices referred to in Article 43(3)

I.

Practices equivalent to crop diversification:

(1)

Crop diversification

Requirement: at least three crops, the main crop covering a maximum of 75 %, and any one or more of the following applying:

• there are at least four crops,

• lower maximum thresholds apply,

• there is a more appropriate selection of crops, such as, for example, leguminous, protein crops, crops not requiring irrigation or pesticide treatments, as appropriate,

• regional varieties of old, traditional or endangered crop types are included on at least 5 % of the rotated area.

(2)

Crop rotation

Requirement: at least three crops, the main crop covering a maximum of 75 %, and any one or both of the following applying:

• a more environmentally beneficial multiannual sequence of crops and/or fallow is followed,

• there are at least four crops.

(3)

Winter soil cover(1)

(4)

Catch crops(1)

II.

Practices equivalent to maintenance of permanent grassland:

(1)

Management of meadows or pastures

Requirement: maintenance of permanent grassland and any one or more of the following:

• Cutting regime or appropriate mowing (dates, methods, limits)

• Maintenance of landscape features on permanent grassland and control of scrub

• Specified grass varieties and/or seeding regime for renewal depending on the grassland type, with no destruction of high nature value

• Evacuation of forage or hay

• Appropriate management for steep slopes

• Fertiliser regime

• Pesticide restrictions

(2)

Extensive grazing systems

Requirement: maintenance of permanent grassland and any one or more of the following:

• Extensive grazing (timing, maximum stocking density)

• Shepherding or mountain pastoralism

• Using local or traditional breeds for grazing the permanent grassland

III.

Practices equivalent with ecological focus area:

Requirement: application of any of the following practices on at least the percentage of the arable land set pursuant to Article 46(1):

(1)

Ecological set-aside

(2)

Creation of "buffer zones" for high nature value areas, Natura 2000 or other biodiversity protection sites, including along hedgerows and water courses

(3)

Management of uncultivated buffer strips and field margins (cutting regime, local or specified grass varieties and/or seeding regime, re-seeding with regional varieties, no use of pesticides, no disposal of manure and/or mineral fertilisers, no irrigation, no soil sealing)

(4)

Borders, in-field strips and patches managed for wildlife or specific fauna (herbaceous border, protection of nests, wildflower strips, local seed mix, unharvested crops)

(5)

Management (pruning, trimming, dates, methods, restoration) of landscape features (trees, hedgerows, riparian woody vegetation, stone walls (terraces), ditches, ponds)

(6)

Keeping arable peaty or wet soils under grass (with no use of fertilisers and no use of plant protection products)

(7)

Production on arable land with no use of fertiliser (mineral fertiliser and manure) and/or plant protection products, and not irrigated, not sown with the same crop two years in a row and on a fixed place(1)

(8)

Conversion of arable land into permanent grassland extensively used

(1)

Practices subject to the calculation referred to in point (c) of Article 43(12)