Payments totalling €5.5m reached the bank accounts of 1,200 participants in the Organic Farming Scheme this week.

The payments represent an advance of 85% of a farmer’s total payment with the remaining 15% payable in 2021 in accordance with EU rules.

There are still 330 participants in the scheme awaiting payment with the Department of Agriculture reporting that regular pay runs will be in place in the coming weeks to issue payments as more applications are cleared for payment.

The Organic Farming Scheme has been a huge success

In announcing the payments Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett said: “I am delighted to confirm that advance payments to some 1,200 organic farmers under our Organic Farming Scheme have now commenced, two weeks ahead of schedule and earlier than last year.

“The Organic Farming Scheme has been a huge success in terms of achieving its targets, and has resulted in an increase of nearly 50% on the number of hectares under organic production since the start of the scheme in 2014.”

The participation rate has remained static in recent years

The Organic Farming Scheme is provided under Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

The participation rate has remained static in recent years, with the area of land currently farmed under organic status standing at 72,000ha.

2021 funding

Funding for 2021 was increased by €4m in Budget 2021. This will provide sufficient funding for the existing cohort of applicants while also allowing the scheme to reopen in 2021 for in the region of 400 to 500 new entrants.

Minister Hackett reports that the extension is currently pending approval with the European Commission and that current participants can expect to receive correspondence from the Department of Agriculture to confirm participation for another year.

The demand from consumers, and indeed farmers, toward organic production is growing at home and abroad

She also said she expects to be in a position to make further announcements on the re-opening of the scheme in the near future.

Minister Hackett said: “I’m very ambitious for the Irish organic sector and intend to drive implementation of the current National Organics Strategy.

“The demand from consumers, and indeed farmers, toward organic production is growing at home and abroad. Organic farming also supports more nature-friendly farming practices and reduced emissions, which will also help us to meet climate and biodiversity targets.”

The most recent opening of the scheme was oversubscribed with selection criteria weighed to prioritise entry of dairy and tillage farmers with the aim of balancing participation with sheep and suckler/beef farmers. It is not yet known if the same focus will apply to the next opening.