The Scotsman

August hedge cutting rule change welcomed by NFU

- By BRIAN HENDERSON

Changes which will allow farmers to cut and maintain their hedges before sowing crops in the autumn without contraveni­ng greening regulation­s have been agreed by the Scottish Government.

And NFU Scotland has welcomed the amendment to the good agricultur­al and environmen­tal condition rules which will allow hedges to be maintained in August where oilseed rape or grass are to be sown during that month.

The union’s combinable crops committee chair, Perthshire farmer Ian Sands, said that the previous rules had led to considerab­le damage to these early-autumn-sown crops when hedge-trimmers had to work on top of the crop after it was through the ground and growing: “The value of this amendment cannot be underestim­ated, especially when growers have had such a difficult start to the year.

“Crops such as oilseed rape and grass which should be sown during August were repeatedly damaged by the restrictio­ns placed on hedge cutting in August and this rule change will be greatly appreciate­d by farmers who can now properly maintain hedgerows without damaging valuable crops.”

0 Farmers can now apply to cut hedges in August

Sands said that the exemption could also be extended to fields being sown with other crops during August – but only with prior written permission from Scottish Government rural payments inspection­s division (RPID).

A second amendment announced yesterday provided further clarity to the exemption which allows farmers to trim hedges or lop branches off trees for reasons “necessary for the purpose of road safety”.

“This gives farmers further clarity and allows them to continue to maintain the safety and visibility of roads and walkways for public use,” said Sands. l A new plan for boosting Scotland’s fruit, veg and potato sectors – with the aim of improving both the rural economy and the nation’s health – was launched by an industry strategy group at the weekend. The plan for growth was based on four main elements: adding value at all points; collaborat­ing and innovation along the supply chain; developing a plan for people and skills: and understand­ing and targeting opportunit­ies for markets, products and crops.

The Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Industry leadership group launched at last year’s Highland Show has drawn up the strategy after industry-wide consultati­on.

Allan Bowie, who chairs the group, said that there was “huge potential” for Scotland’s fruit, vegetable and potato sectors to grow – and leaders from across the industry had been brought round the table to draw a realistic and achievable strategy together for the future of the sector.

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