# The Farming with Nature Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, Paragraph 7: Eligible scheme actions; Arable – unharvested cereal margin between 3 and 12 metres


An applicant creating an unharvested cereal margin on arable land between 3 and 12 metres wide must–
(a) not create it on–
(i) permanent grassland sensitive areas; or
(ii) a maize crop;
(b) not apply–
(i) organic fertilisers;
(ii) inorganic fertilisers; or
(iii) lime;
(c) not apply plant protection products, except for the spot treatment of noxious or invasive weeds;
(d) create it along part of or for the entire field boundary, where the main field crop is cereal, in line with normal husbandry practice;
(e) create it in a minimum area of 0.1 hectare;
(f) protect it from grazing and damage by livestock or machinery; and
(g) ensure that it is retained until 28th February 2027.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2025/101/schedule/1/paragraph/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/farming-with-nature-scheme-regulations-northern-ireland-2025/schedule-1/paragraph-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.