Schedule 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR ARABLE LAND WHICH IS TO REVERT TO HEATHLAND OR DRY GRASSLAND
As regards any land which is the subject of an agreement and which has been continuously used in rotation for arable cropping since 31st August 1987 —
In the course of the first period of eighteen months after the commencement of the agreement —
The farmer shall crop the land with cereals.
The farmer shall not apply lime, slag or any substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil.
The farmer shall not apply any fertiliser other than a maximum of 125 kilogrammes of nitrogen per hectare.
The farmer shall remove straw immediately after harvesting, but not by means of burning.
In the course of the subsequent period of twelve months after the expiry of the eighteen-month period referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above —
The farmer shall again crop the land with cereals.
The farmer shall not irrigate.
The farmer shall not apply herbicides except to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort. The farmer shall control infestations of such weeds by means of cutting or the use of herbicides. Herbicides used for any of the above-mentioned purposes shall be applied by weed wiper or spot treatment.
The farmer shall not apply pesticides, lime or any fertiliser, other than a maximum of 100 kilogrammes of nitrogen per hectare.
The farmer shall remove straw immediately after harvesting, but not by means of burning.
The farmer shall not undersow the crop.
After harvesting the crop referred to in sub-paragraph (2) above, the farmer shall not cultivate the land and shall observe in relation to the land the requirements laid down in Schedule 1.