The majority of farmers involved in the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS) have received their payments. However, there are still some outstanding payments to be made to farmers participating in tranche two of the scheme.

A further 180 applicants are yet to have their payments finalised, down from 500 at the end of July, a Department official has revealed. According to the spoksperson, the hope is to have all payments cleared in the near future: “It is expected that all these cases will be finalised shortly.”

Organic Farming Scheme

Almost all of the participants in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) have received their 2016 advance payment, according to the Department. The majority of the 1,700 farmers participating in the scheme have received their 85% advance payment in respect of 2016. The balancing payments of 15% are also due to issue to OFS farmers next month. Seven cases in the older pre-2015 organics scheme have not yet received payment due to “particular issues with their individual payments”, the Department has said.

When asked on the potential of the OFS reopening, the spokesperson said: “The OFS is currently closed to new applications, as all funds allocated under the Rural Development Plan (RDP) have been fully committed and all targets set have been achieved.”