As the UK suffers a blast of severe wintry weather, the NFU has successfully lobbied for the livestock feeding rules in agri-environment schemes to be relaxed.
Natural England has agreed a derogation for livestock farmers which means that scheme payments will not be jeopardised by the supplementary feeding of grazing stock when ground is snow-covered or frozen. A temporary lifting of the restrictions was also put in place by Natural England earlier this year when the country was in the grip of similar freezing conditions.
Natural England has agreed a derogation for livestock farmers which means that scheme payments will not be jeopardised by the supplementary feeding of grazing stock when ground is snow-covered or frozen. A temporary lifting of the restrictions was also put in place by Natural England earlier this year when the country was in the grip of similar freezing conditions.
Weather forecasters are predicting the current cold snap could last up until Christmas with further snow and freezing temperatures.
NFU national uplands spokesman Will Cockbain said: “Farmers will do their utmost to comply with the requirements of their agri-environment agreements. But at this time and with the harsh winter conditions coming so early in the season, the welfare of their livestock must come first.”
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