The Minister added “to put this in context, since the introduction of the Organic Farming Scheme in 2007, the maximum number of applications received in any year was 380, in 2010.”
The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the Department's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). It has a budget of €52 million over the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme.
Farmers enter into a contract for a minimum of five years, with standard rate payments of up to €220 per hectare a year during the conversion period and up to €170 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status.
Higher payment rates are available for organic horticultural and tillage farmers.
The 870 applications received account for over 46,000 hectares of land, and over 58% of this area is being brought into organic production for the first time.
Incentives to join the scheme included:
Increased rates of payment Increase cap in area – currently full payment is capped at 55 hectares. This is increased to 60 hectares
Farmers producing red clover, which is a high protein high dry matter fodder and also a nitrogen fixer forage crop will receive an increased top-up payment of €30/haTo encourage crop production tillage farmers will receive a higher rate per hectare for the first 20 hectares"The fact that 504 of these applicants are converting to organics for the first time highlights increased recognition of the potential opportunities that exist for organic producers, both at home and abroad,” the Minister continued. "This is a landmark day for the organic farming sector.”
Organic reforms
Meanwhile in Europe, an agreement has just been reached on proposed regulations for the organic sector. Talks have stalled twice this year over proposed organic reforms in the EU, so today's news on reaching an agreement is particularly welcome.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said “I am delighted we have reached agreement in Council on the regulations for the production and labelling of organic produce. This is particularly important for Ireland in light of the numbers who have applied for the Organic Farming Scheme under our Rural Development Programme announced earlier today. These regulations provide clear rules for the organic sector and a good basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.”
The Minister added “to put this in context, since the introduction of the Organic Farming Scheme in 2007, the maximum number of applications received in any year was 380, in 2010.”
The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the Department's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). It has a budget of €52 million over the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme.
Farmers enter into a contract for a minimum of five years, with standard rate payments of up to €220 per hectare a year during the conversion period and up to €170 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status.
Higher payment rates are available for organic horticultural and tillage farmers.
The 870 applications received account for over 46,000 hectares of land, and over 58% of this area is being brought into organic production for the first time.
Incentives to join the scheme included:
Increased rates of payment Increase cap in area – currently full payment is capped at 55 hectares. This is increased to 60 hectaresFarmers producing red clover, which is a high protein high dry matter fodder and also a nitrogen fixer forage crop will receive an increased top-up payment of €30/haTo encourage crop production tillage farmers will receive a higher rate per hectare for the first 20 hectares"The fact that 504 of these applicants are converting to organics for the first time highlights increased recognition of the potential opportunities that exist for organic producers, both at home and abroad,” the Minister continued. "This is a landmark day for the organic farming sector.”
Organic reforms
Meanwhile in Europe, an agreement has just been reached on proposed regulations for the organic sector. Talks have stalled twice this year over proposed organic reforms in the EU, so today's news on reaching an agreement is particularly welcome.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said “I am delighted we have reached agreement in Council on the regulations for the production and labelling of organic produce. This is particularly important for Ireland in light of the numbers who have applied for the Organic Farming Scheme under our Rural Development Programme announced earlier today. These regulations provide clear rules for the organic sector and a good basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.”
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