Paragraph 3 Exemptions from the requirement to establish a green cover on set-aside land

(1)

A farmer shall by virtue of this provision be treated as having been exempted from the requirement to establish a green cover by the start of the green cover season where he satisfies the Minister that for climatic reasons it was not practicable for there to be such a green cover by that time, in which case he shall establish a green cover as soon as reasonably possible thereafter.

(2)

A farmer shall be exempt from the requirement to establish a green cover on penalty set-aside land and on land in which there was a crop at 1st October prior to the commencement of the set-aside period, in which case the farmer shall either—

(a)

establish and maintain a green cover on that land in accordance with one of the management options referred to in paragraph 1 above; or

(b)

not sow a green cover, in which case he shall—

(i)

maintain throughout the green cover season any natural cover which develops on that land, except to the extent that a circumstance in paragraph 4 or paragraph 11(1) below applies; and

(ii)

prior to the end of the green cover season, carry out no operation affecting the surface of the land except for discing or shallow cultivating it.