Farmers face challenge of adhering to 'three crop rule' following wet weather

Farmers have said the EU's ‘three-crop rule’ is 'near impossible' to adhere to this winter

The relentless wet weather in some parts of the United Kingdom has made the ‘three crop rule’ for arable and horticultural growers challenging to follow.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says the prolonged wet winter means farmers are facing "real challenges" in following the EU rule.

The rule applies to farms of over 30 hectares where farmers must grow at least 3 crops and was agreed in order to help conserve the environment and contribute to addressing greenhouse emissions.

But farmers have almost universally lambasted the policy as misguided and ineffective.

Previous Defra Secretaries Liz Truss and Andrea Leadsom have called for the rule to be scrapped due to its perceived bureaucratic system.

The UFU has now asked the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to consider the challenges farmers are trying to meet.

UFU president Barclay Bell says: “Many farmers were unable to plant winter crops due to poor field conditions and delayed planting of spring crops will leave them with very few options.”

“In many areas, ploughing hasn’t even started and it could be mid-April before any drilling is carried out.

“This issue needs to be addressed urgently to allow farmers to make suitable arrangements. We are now calling on DAERA to look at the possibility of seeking a derogation for this year.”

Due to the prolonged winter, farmers are also becoming increasingly concerned about pressure on fodder supplies.