Defra has relaxed rules on cross-compliance and set-aside, as part of moves to combat recent floods.

Secretary Hilary Benn has suspended the cross compliance requirement GAEC 3 prohibiting the use of mechanical field operations and mechanised vehicles on waterlogged soil until July 31, to allow growers and farmers to use mechanical equipment and vehicles on waterlogged soil and access their crops.

According to Defra, growers can now use their Soil Protection Review as a means to identify any soil-related issues arising as a result of the suspension.

In turn, the NFU welcomed Defra’s decision to suspend the rules, but urged the Government to take further steps to help flood-hit farmers, praising their ‘pragmatism’.

But NFU president Peter Kendall said it was important farmers were allowed access to set-aside land to enable them to salvage as much as possible from the effects of the floods.

“There are some further critical issues for growers,” he commented. “I’m asking the Secretary of State to move swiftly to grant the blanket derogations we’re asking for and to make the process as simple as possible for farmers.”

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