Organic TAMS to give marks for straw chopping and protein crops

The recently opened Organic Farming Capital Investment Scheme (OFCIS) has seen some changes made to the marking sheet regarding tillage operations.

Applicants will receive a maximum of five marks for having any area in the Protein Aid Scheme on BPS/BISS, with zero marks awarded to those with no area.

Higher marks are also attainable for having lands designated under the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).

Applicants will receive 0.5 marks per ha declared under the SIM on their BPS/BISS, up to a maximum of 20 marks with those with 40ha and above.

Increased marks

The increased marks for participants of these schemes will be welcome, as some of the other criteria favour smaller, less-intensive farms with parcels of ANC land.

Previously, having any amount of ANC on your farm resulted in being awarded five marks.

Now, farmers must have a minimum of 5ha to gain any marks from having ANC land, with the marks awarded on a sliding scale of >5ha to <=10ha (2.5 marks); >10ha to <=20ha (five marks); >20ha to <=30ha (7.5 marks); and >30ha (10 marks max).

Larger farms will also see their marks reduced. Previously, farmers were awarded 0.5 marks per ha of eligible land, up to a maximum of 25 marks.

However, now farmers will be penalised on any lands over 5ha. The level of the penalty can be calculated through using the equation 1 ÷ BPS/BISS area x 100 - for example, 1 ÷ 5ha x 100= 25 marks; 1 ÷ 40ha x 100=2.5 marks.