The Terms and Conditions governing the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme require that applicants must have reached a minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare declared. However, specific provision is being made for those farmers who did not meet these requirements, where a lower stocking density was as a result of adherence to an agri-environmental measure, such as a Commonage Framework De-stocking Plans, Rural Environmental Protection Schemes (REPS) or Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). All applicants will be written to formally and given the opportunity to apply for a derogation on the grounds that participation in one of the above measures resulted in the lower stocking density.