RG 2004 December

From Ukcider

This page is part of The Cidermaking Year by Rose Grant December, 2004

defra

Just received the November update bulletin from Defra about the proposed single payment scheme. It looks as though they have relented considerably with regard to the eligibility of orchards. They have proposed to the EU that an orchard should qualify if the foliage/bud height is above 1.5 m . Minimum size of the orchard allowable is 0.3 ha unless part of a larger holding. This will be the salvation of nearly all of the traditional orchards, providing it is approved, though bush orchards still wont benefit. It still does not make sense that apples can be excluded at all as being an agricultural product, but at least it looks as though the campaign may yet bear some fruit.

Rose