{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-sensitive-areas-designation-order-1990/schedule-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-sensitive-areas-designation-order-1990/schedule-2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1990/1013",
  "legislation_title": "The Nitrate Sensitive Areas (Designation) Order 1990",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-sensitive-areas-designation-order-1990",
  "path": "schedule/2",
  "kind": "schedule",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "OBLIGATIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN A PREMIUM SCHEME AGREEMENT",
  "text": "As regards any land which is the subject of a premium scheme agreement:–\n1 The farmer shall cease arable production and establish a grassland sward by 1st October which next occurs after entering into the said agreement.\n2 The farmer shall increase the overall area of grassland on all his land within the nitrate sensitive area to at least the area of grassland as at 31st July 1989 plus the amount of arable land converted to grassland or grassland with woodland and shall maintain an equivalent area as grassland or grassland with woodland for the period of the agreement.\n3 The farmer shall maintain–\n(a) as grassland for the period of the agreement any arable land converted to grassland since 31st July 1989, or\n(b) as grassland with woodland for the period of the agreement any arable land converted to grassland with woodland since 31st July 1989.\n4 The farmer shall not cultivate the grassland except to re-seed it.\n5 The farmer shall not re-seed the grassland without the approval in writing of the Minister.\n6 The farmer shall use only a seeds mixture which does not include legumes.\n7 The farmer shall comply with the obligations listed in any one of the Options, headed Option A, Option B, Option C or Option D, set out below.\nOption A – conversion of arable land to grassland, unfertilised and ungrazed\n(i) The farmer shall not apply any organic nitrogen fertiliser or inorganic nitrogen fertiliser to the grassland or land planted with grass seed.\n(ii) The farmer shall cut the grass at least twice each year and remove the cuttings from the land.\n(iii) The farmer shall not irrigate the grassland.\n(iv) The farmer shall not allow the grass to be grazed.\nOption B – conversion of arable land to grassland with grazing\n(i) The farmer shall not apply any organic nitrogen fertiliser or inorganic nitrogen fertiliser to the grassland or land planted with grass seed.\n(ii) The farmer shall not allow overgrazing of the grassland.\n(iii) If the farmer cuts the grass, he shall remove the cuttings from the land.\n(iv) The farmer shall not irrigate the grassland.\n(v) The farmer shall not increase the number of livestock on the land above that which may be fed from the grass alone.\nOption C – conversion of arable land to grassland wih grazing and limited application of nitrogen fertiliser\n(i) The farmer shall not apply more than 150 kilograms per hectare of organic nitrogen fertiliser or inorganic nitrogen fertiliser in any period of 12 months.\n(ii) The farmer shall not allow overgrazing of the grassland.\n(iii) If the farmer cuts the grass, he shall remove the cuttings from the land.\n(iv) The farmer shall not irrigate the grassland.\n(v) The farmer shall not increase the number of livestock on the land above that which may be fed from the grass alone.\nOption D – conversion of arable land to grassland with woodland\n(i) The farmer shall not apply any organic nitrogen fertiliser or inorganic nitrogen fertiliser to the grassland or land planted with grass seed.\n(ii) The farmer shall not allow the grass to be grazed.\n(iii) If the farmer cuts the grass he shall remove the cuttings from the land.\n(iv) The farmer shall plant woodland complying with the conditions of the Farm Woodland Scheme by 1st April which next occurs after entering into the said agreement.\n(v) When planting woodland–\n(a) the farmer shall plant at least 50 per cent of that woodland with broadleafed species of tree; and\n(b) any conifers planted shall be interspersed with broadleafed species of tree.\n(vi) The farmer shall not plant alder trees.\n(vii) When planting trees, the farmer shall not remove an area of grass of more than one square metre per tree.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "replaced",
      "affecting": "uksi/1990/1187",
      "affecting_title": "The Nitrate Sensitive Areas (Designation) (Amendment) Order 1990"
    },
    {
      "type": "amended",
      "affecting": "uksi/1990/1187",
      "affecting_title": "The Nitrate Sensitive Areas (Designation) (Amendment) Order 1990"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1990/1013/schedule/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:20:46.140139+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}