UFU Watch
The Ulster Farmers’ Union have written to Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill to seek support from her and her department on the ‘Crop Diversification’ exemption. This request follows on from a recent meeting with Minister O’Neill were the UFU discussed ‘Greening’ and the many outstanding areas of clarity required by Union members.
This exemption is applicable where more than 50%of the arable land declared by the farmer was not declared in his aid application of the previous year and all the arable land is being cultivated with a different crop compared to the previous year. This exemption, if delivered on and fully understood, may have the potential to help both potato and vegetable producers who might otherwise struggle with Greening in 2015.
