The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Set-aside) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Application of fertiliser, waste, lime and gypsum to the land set aside from production

15.—(1) A farmer shall not apply any fertiliser, waste, lime or gypsum to the land set aside from production except in accordance with the following sub-paragraphs.

(2) A farmer may apply fertilisers to the land set aside from production if prior to such application he satisfies the Department that the land is situated in an area known to be used as a feeding area by geese in winter and is to be managed as such an area.

(3) Throughout the set-aside period a farmer may apply organic waste to the land set aside from production provided that it –

(a) is applied only where there is an existing green cover on the set-aside land;

(b) is applied in amounts which will not destroy that green cover; and

(c) in the case of manure and slurry, is not applied –

(i) within 10 metres of any watercourse; or

(ii) within 50 metres of any borehole.

(4) A farmer shall not store, dump or otherwise dispose of any waste on the land set aside from production, save that he may store organic waste in a field which comprises or forms part of the set-aside land where that organic waste is to be applied by him to that field in accordance with sub-paragraph (3).

(5) A farmer may apply fertiliser during the current year to any agricultural parcel of land managed in accordance with paragraph 4 where a new green cover is being established in that year, provided that the total nitrogen content of that fertiliser is not more than 30 kilograms per hectare of the land to which it is applied.

(6) A farmer may apply lime or gypsum to the land set aside from production where that land is to be cropped in the following year.