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

The natural regeneration option

3.—(1) In each field or part of a field to be managed in accordance with the natural regeneration option, a farmer shall –

(a) subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 7, establish a green cover by the start of the current green cover season by allowing natural regeneration following the last crop produced in that field or part of a field in the previous year;

(b) subject to paragraphs 8, 12 and 13, maintain the green cover thereafter until the end of the relevant period; and

(c) cut or destroy the green cover in accordance with paragraph 6.

(2) The requirement to establish a green cover in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply –

(a) in 2005, where –

(i) the field or part of a field was set aside in 2004 pursuant to Article 6 of Council Regulation 1251/1999 and was managed during that year in accordance with the natural regeneration option set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Arable Area Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997; and

(ii) the green cover established in accordance with the requirements of that option has been maintained until the beginning of the current green cover season; and

(b) in 2006 and in each year thereafter, where –

(i) the field or part of a field was set aside in the previous year and was managed during that year in accordance with the natural regeneration option; and

(ii) the green cover established in accordance with the requirements of that option has been maintained until the beginning of the current green cover season in the year in question.