Don’t jeopardise Single Payment

Farmers and Landowners may be risking their SP by not reinstating cross-field paths after ploughing and subsequent cultivations.

The maintenance of cross-field paths and headland rights of way (Good environmental and agricultural condition (GAEC) rule eight) now falls within cross compliance regulations (introduced as part of the SP regime effective from January 1st 2005) and by not re-instating paths, this may be classed as an infringement of the rules and could result in a penalty being applied to SP.

Mark Hall, Farm Business Consultant of Strutt & Parker says “farmers and landowners should be aware that not re-instating all cross-field paths and not maintaining headland rights of way not only has legal but now financial implications. Persistent negligence could lead to penalties under the SP regime as well action under the Rights of Way Act 1990 if a reinstatement isn’t made.”