The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross Compliance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Soil management

1.—(1) A farmer shall prevent soil from being poached, except where:

(a) poaching of soil is a necessary consequence of measures taken to ensure animal welfare during periods of extreme weather conditions;

(b) the waterlogged soil is within 5 metres of a gateway or other access point and access is required over the waterlogged soil to land that is not waterlogged;

(c) the waterlogged soil is on an established track to land that is not waterlogged;

(d) poaching of soil is a necessary consequence of harvesting a crop of fresh vegetables or fruit in circumstances where such produce would deteriorate if not harvested as a matter of urgency; or

(e) poaching of soil is a necessary consequence of works that are required to improve the drainage of the waterlogged soil.

(2) A farmer shall ensure that during the period after harvest until the 1st March in the following year one of the following conditions is met in respect of cultivated land:

(a) the stubble of the harvested crop remains in the land;

(b) the land is sown with a temporary crop cover; or

(c) the land is left with a rough surface following ploughing or discing.