The document provides guidance on cross compliance requirements for 2014, including updates to rules on soil protection reviews, nitrate vulnerable zones, use of plant protection products, and habitat maintenance. Farmers will receive information via email, post, or on the RPA website, including an additional page to add to the SPR2010. The soil protection review must be kept on farm. Rules have changed for closed periods of applying organic manures, nitrogen maximum levels, and buffer zones near watercourses. Farmers should prepare for cross compliance inspections by ensuring they comply with requirements on habitats, identification and registration of livestock, and animal welfare.

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Cross Compliance
Bob Bulmer

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2014 guidance plans
SPS online claimants with a valid email address will receive
an emailed update providing a link to the RPA website
with a fully updated 2014 handbook and SPR additional
page to print out, complete and keep with the SPR2010.
All other customers will receive a mailing from w/comm. 6th
December containing:
 Covering letter
 16 page update booklet
 SPR additional page for 2014
 A ‘where to find the latest rules’ document
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2014 Handbook
If you do not have access to the 2014 online consolidated
handbook the following documents make up the 2014
guidance:
 2012 handbook
 December 2012 update for 2013 rules
 July 2013 update with revised pages for GAEC 19, SMR
4 and SMR7
 December 2013 update for 2014 rules
 Anyone whose email ‘bounces’ will receive the pack later
in December.
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Updates for 2014
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Cross Compliance failures 2011 and 2012

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Soil Protection Review needs reviewing!
 The farmer had not conducted a Soil
Protection Review or not able to
produce it on request.
The farmer has not adequately
completed the SPR.
The farmer has not entered when they
accessed waterlogged land

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SPR2010: Completing a Farm Soil Plan

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GAEC 1 – Soil Protection Review
The SPR 2010 was originally only expected to run until 2013.
Therefore an additional page is required to cover the 2014
inspection year. The additional page is being sent to all SPS
customers who will receive a hard copy update.
It is also available on the RPA website.
It must be kept with the SPR2010. Advisors to note the SPR
MUST be kept ‘on farm or this will be treated as a breach’.
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SPR Continuation sheet

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SPR Continuation sheet

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NVZ guidance available at
www.gov.uk/nitrate-vulnerable-zones

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NVZs – Main problems
• Records
• Fertiliser plan
• Risk map
• Manure storage calculation
• Location of manure heaps
• Application of organic manures too close to a
watercourse

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Manure risk map

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Livestock Manure Nitrogen Loading
Aims of the proposed measuresClosed periods - Organic Manures
• Organic manures with a high readily available N content (>30% of total N)
e.g. slurry, poultry manure and liquid anaerobic digestate.
Grassland Tillage land
Sandy or shallow soils 1 September to 31 December 1 August to 31 December
All other soils 15 October to 31st January 1 October to 31st January
• Sandy and shallow soils OK between 1st August and 15th September if crop sown
before 15th September
• Slurry max application rate (30m³/ha) and minimum return period (3 weeks) up to
end of Feb
• Exemptions for organic producers
• Pages 37 to 39

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N max
• Nmax rules now apply to a range of
horticultural crops
• When calculating the Nmax you will need
to include the nitrogen contained in all
organic manures (previously animal
manures only)

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Livestock Manure Nitrogen Loading
• Cover any poultry manure without bedding with an
impermeable sheet
• Locate heaps at least 10m from surface water and 50m from
springs wells or boreholes
• Avoid land that is waterlogged or likely to flood
• Move heaps at least every 12 months
• Leave a two year gap before returning to the same site
• Keep a record of the sites used and location date
• New rules
• 20% slopes heap has to be located 30m from surface
water
• Heap has to occupy as small an area as possible
Aims of the proposed measures
Field Storage of Solid Manures

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GAEC 14
Protection of Water courses and hedgerows

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Protection zones
 Cultivated
 Applied pesticide, fertiliser in the protection zone.

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SMR 9 Restrictions on the use of Plant Protection
Products
 Maximum dose levels exceeded
 Permitted number of applications exceeded.
 Application using a non-approved method of application
 Not having the necessary certificate of competence to
use pesticides.
 Applying pesticides outside of the target area such as
too close to watercourses.

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Buffer Types
LERAP A or B
AQUATIC

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LERAP’s
Local Environment Risk Assessment for Pesticides
• Water protection
• Statutory measure – recorded (3yrs)
• Dry ditch – 1 metre buffer
• Open water-body – 5 metres unless it can be reduced (5m to 1m)
• Rate
• Sprayer or nozzle LERAP star rating
• All crops on label

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Aquatic Buffers
Interim scheme – water protection
Crop based buffer zones
• Could have different buffers on different crops
• Statutory measure – recorded (3yrs)
Either 5 metre reducible with LERAP, or could be:- 6 – 20 metres (non
reducible)
Dry ditch then 1 metre

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Best Solution - Grass strip against main
watercourses

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SMR 9 Restrictions on the use of Plant
Protection Products
• Sustainable use directive.
• Demonstrate IPM practices are being followed
from 2014.
•Complete an IPM plan
•www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk
•Useful evidence for farm assurance schemes
and cross compliance inspections

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Single Payment Scheme
Cross Compliance Requirements
Maintenance of habitats and landscape features
GAEC 1 – Soil Protection Review
GAEC 5 – Environmental Impact Assessments
GAEC 6 - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s)
GAEC 7 – Scheduled monuments
GAEC 8 – Public Rights of Way
GAEC 9 – Overgrazing & unsuitable supplementary feeding
GAEC 10 - Heather & grass burning
GAEC 11 – Control of weeds
GAEC 12 – Land not in production
GAEC 13 – Stone walls
GAEC 14 – Protection of hedges and watercourses
GAEC 15 – Hedgerows
GAEC 16 – Felling of trees
GAEC 17 – Tree Preservation Orders
GAEC 18 - Water Abstraction
GAEC 19 - No Spread Zones

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SMR 1 -Wild birds
SMR 2 -Groundwater
SMR 3 - Sewage Sludge
SMR 4 - Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
SMR 5 - Habitats and Species
SMR 6 - Pig identification and registration
SMR 7 - Cattle identification and registration
SMR 8 - Sheep and goat identification
SMR 9 - Restrictions on the use of plant protection products
SMR 10- Restrictions on the use of substances having
hormonal or thyrostatic action and beta-
agonists in farm animals
SMR 11 - Food and Feed Law
SMR 12 - Prevention and control of Transmissible
Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)
SMR 13 - Control of Foot and Mouth Disease
SMR 14 - Control of certain animal diseases
SMR 15 - Control of Bluetongue
SMR 16 - Welfare of calves
SMR 17 - Welfare of pigs
SMR 18 - Welfare of farmed animals
Statutory management requirements (SMRs)

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Are you prepared?

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Farming Advice Service
Access to expert advice through a technical helpline
Regional and national events, tailored to reflect the needs
of different groups and advice themes
Helpline number: 0845 345 1302
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/farming-advice