The state of Lower Saxony has created a new basis for voluntary compensation payments to farmers affected by resting peaks with the guideline on the granting of cheap payments to reduce yield losses caused by roosting peaks of Nordic guest birds on agricultural arable land (equity guideline noGa-Acker) of 09.01.2019. The guideline was published on April 3rd, 2019. Farmers have the opportunity to have the major damage events (resting peaks) caused by resting and wintering Nordic guest birds as a result of grazing on arable land and the associated high yield losses compensated proportionately. This is intended to improve acceptance of the above-average numbers of Nordic guest birds in the affected areas and to strengthen protection for these bird species in Lower Saxony. The cheap benefits are a voluntary payment by the state of Lower Saxony, there is no legal entitlement. A maximum of €50,000 per year can be granted per applicant; amounts below €500 will not be approved. Equitable benefits are only granted for arable land with winter crops (winter wheat, winter barley, winter rape, winter triticale, spelt) within the currently applicable nature conservation setting in accordance with funding measures no -AUM). However, participation in NG1 is not a mandatory requirement for the application.
