Defra has indicated that it is to extend the cross-compliance suspension in the wake of recent floods.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has suspended the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standard, GAEC 3, which prohibits farmers from carrying out mechanical operations and using motorised vehicles on waterlogged soil. The standard was put in place to protect soils from compaction and structural damage caused by using vehicles when the soil is too wet.

In view of the recent weather conditions and flooding in some parts of the country, Benn has temporarily suspended the requirement until August 31, subject to review.

Defra has also authorised the Rural Payments Agency to allow farmers to use set aside and for grazing of animal and harvesting of hay and silage.

The Rural Payments Agency has already announced that they have made derogation available to allow land set-aside in 2007 to be grazed or harvested for animal feed. This derogation allows farmers to graze set-aside land with their own animals or harvest hay or silage for their own use.

Farmers wishing to make use of this derogation should telephone, e-mail or write to the RPA Customer Service Centre providing the reference numbers for the fields which they wish to graze or harvest.