Overview

CXCS Representative: Thomas Civai

Please note that all names and locations have been removed to protect the identity of our clients and the inspectors.

On Friday 26th May 2017 Tom Civai attended an ELS & RPA inspection in Staffordshire. The inspection was called in order to inspect the ELS agreement prior to it ending in July 2017; the agreement consisted of 3 EK3 (very low input) fields.

Whilst walking the ground the inspector discovered that 1 of the EK3 parcels was entirely permanent woodland and was ineligible as an EK3 option and for BPS. There were 2 mitigating factors that the inspector took into account; firstly the farmer had bought the ground halfway through the ELS agreement, and secondly, there were sufficient ELS points from the other 2 parcels that the inspector could completely remove the woodland parcel from the agreement.

The inspector went on to check the CXCS paperwork for all years from the date the farmer bought the ground up until the date of inspection; he was checking for any records of fertiliser or manure having been applied to any of the parcels in the agreement (for EK3 fields you may apply up to 12.5tns/ha or 5tns/ac of farmyard manure each year. No other type of fertiliser of manure may be applied). The inspector was happy with the records provided and signed them off.

After the inspection, it was indicated to both the farmer and CXCS that due to the ELS inspection, the farm would be subject to a full cross compliance inspection at some point during 2017