Land reclamation cadastral ditches – a new ecologically significant area
Changes to the conditions come into effect in 2018. Plant protection products may no longer be used in ecologically important areas (fallen fields, grassland, catch crops, nitrogen-fixing crops). Due to this new condition, farmers must plan how to otherwise ensure compliance with the greening requirements this year. One of the new options is ditches bordering arable land.
The calculation of the greening requirements will use ditches from the Land Reclamation Cadastre of the Ministry of Agriculture (ZMNĪ). The farmer does not need to indicate them himself - there is no need to specify the field blocks. In cases where there are discrepancies in nature with the Land Reclamation Cadastre data, ZMNĪ should be contacted.
RSS in the geographic information system http://karte.lad.gov.lv/ You can view current information. On the map, the drainage ditches of the Land Reclamation Cadastre are marked in light blue.
The RSS has prepared some examples to explain in which cases ditches will be included in the calculation of compliance with greening requirements. It should be noted that a ditch is considered a landscape element even in cases where it is overgrown or unkempt, but the farmer should take into account that the maintenance of drainage systems is one of the conditions of cross-compliance requirements, and sanctions may be applied in case of non-compliance.
Source: Rural Support Service