Paragraph 8 The Field Margins Option

In each part field to be managed in accordance with the Field Margins Option, a farmer—

(a)

shall establish a green cover in accordance with paragraph 5(1)(a) or 6(a) of this Schedule and maintain it thereafter;

(b)

shall cut the green cover at least once during each period of 12 months that the part field remains set aside, except that he may leave uncut a strip of green cover up to 2 metres wide adjacent to any hedge or woodland;

(c)

shall not harvest any of the green cover or permit any of it to be harvested or grazed unless—

(i)

he has previously notified the Minister of his intention to use the green cover for permitted agricultural production; and

(ii)

he cuts the green cover to an average length of no more than 10 centimetres at least once between 15th July and 15th August prior to the end of the set-aside period in any year in which he wishes to harvest the green cover, or permit it to be harvested or grazed,

in which case he may use the green cover for permitted agricultural production.