Here are some of the key points to remember when planting catch crops which will be grazed on your farm to make sure that you are ticking all of the cross compliance boxes.

These rules come from the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition guidelines under the CAP Strategic Plan.

These rules need to be followed to comply with conditionality (formerly cross compliance) and they apply to all crops, which will be grazed in-situ apart from grass.

If there is a watercourse in the field, the buffer strip of 3m needs to be extended to 4m.

The uncultivated buffer strip of 3m (required beside a watercourse on tillage land)can be used and another metre which has not been sown with a catch crop is required to make up the 4m.If the stocking rate on your farm is over 170kg/ha then a fence at 1.5m from the top of the bank is required along the watercourse.

A 3m buffer strip has to be left on all other field margins. This margin is to be placed beside the field boundary or hedge.

This buffer can have grass or volunteers from the previous crops.

In March, the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal that “any vegetation type will suffice provided that the buffer area is not set to a grazeable (non-grass) forage crop”.

A lieback is also required and the space is described as needing to be adequate. You must also ensure that the crop is managed to prevent poaching.