FARMERS have taken full advantage of cross compliance meetings aimed at ensuring they are adequately prepared for environmental inspections.

Under the banner Greener Futures, the meetings have focussed on concentrating farmers' minds on new environmental regulations brought in by the reform of the CAP.

NFU food and farming adviser Charlie Morton said: "Every sessions has been full and the feed back we have had on the evaluation forms has been excellent."

She explained: "We have been able to tell them what to expect from inspections and what things environmental inspectors will be looking for when they visit farms." Specific topics dealt with include have included cattle and sheep identification, nitrate vulnerable zones, ground water regulations, sludge, set aside and entry level environmental schemes.