Side aside land - opinions and comments please

H

happihorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2006
Messages
1,563
Visit site
Our next door neighbour farmer has left a 40 acres field next to us as set aside this year. (Last year it was wheat.) He has not been on the field all year and it has become over run with thistles. (The was a bit of ragwort too but I have pulled this up!) During this warm weather, all of the seed have been floating across to our feilds and garden. They look really pretty now, but I'm worried about all the thistles that we are going to get in the paddocks next year!

Is the farm obliged to stop weeds growing in the field when it is set aside and or cut it to prevent the weeds going to seed? I'm sure that he will spray his field before seeding it for next year, but what about the thistles we have left?
 
I'm not 100% sure as I have only studied this as pasrt of my Geography course at 6th but I think that in order to leave it as set aside it must be completly left alone and not touched at all, in order to recover and him to claim his money.

But I may be wrong
grin.gif
 
Set aside land can be cut but there are regulations about when! My oh is a farmer and he cuts set aside but ive never taken much notice of when he does it
 
Thistles are actually covered by the Injurious Weeds act(like Ragwort) so he may have a responsibilty, but I am by no means certain about it.
 
Info from Single Farm Payment leaflets

22. Controlling weeds and volunteer crops
22.1 You must take action to control those weeds set out in the Weeds Act 1959 (common ragwort, broad-leaved dock, curled dock, spear thistle and creeping or field thistle). The Act allows agriculture ministers to take action against anyone who occupies and manages land from which these weeds are spreading.

22.2 You may need to take action to control aggressive weeds, crop volunteers or vigorous growth. You may do this using herbicides, cutting or cultivation. We must remind you that cultivation before mid to late July is still possibly one of the most damaging agricultural operations for wildlife and could destroy a wide range of species. As a result, we strongly advise you to consider alternatives such as using herbicides at the right time or frequent cutting to control weeds
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top