Higher payments and priority access to GLAS has seen a surge in applications to the new organic scheme. Of the 847 applications the Department received, around 450 to 500 are believed to be completely new to organics with the remaining existing organic farmers who were out of contract.

Getting such an influx, while welcome, will cause its own problems. The Dealer understands that existing organic beef farmers are finding it hard to sell their beef. And with surplus organic milk being sold as conventional, the biggest challenge will be to actually sell the extra organic product that will be around in two years’ time. It’s all not simple.