Approximately 300 businesses will no longer be subject to Crop Diversification and EFA in 2018 if their claims stay the same as 2016/2017, according to figures from the Scottish Government. This is due to the simplification of Greening rules.

“The removal of the 30ha limit of arable crops, where more than 75% of a farm business is grassland, including rough grazing, will remove the exposure of the affected businesses to two layers of inspection by SGRPID and, as importantly, allow a great many of our mixed farming units to use all their productive arable land to the full benefit of their businesses,” said Dr Gerald Banks, agricultural consultant with Davidson and Robertson.

He added that, having done calculations for numerous mixed farming units in Aberdeenshire, Perth and Angus, this minor change will benefit virtually all businesses that have hill ground, plus lowland grassland/arable units with significant livestock numbers.

“I look forward to Scot Gov implementing all the simplifications of the EU regulations approved in December, at the very earliest,” Banks said.

The changes are proving valuable to farmers who are ploughing, according to agricultural consultant Olivia Donald.

“Last year I had under 5% [of clients] using the rule and moaning a bit that it was restrictive for arable areas,” she said. “This year I might have slightly more than double, so that’s a fair change for them, especially with the straw prices.”