Up to €5m in payments is to be issued to 1,100 organic farmers this month.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Andrew Doyle said he was “pleased to announce” that advance payments were due to issue from Friday 7 December.

Last year, a number of delays dogged organic payments and farmers will be relieved to receive payments on time after a tough 2018.

“I am delighted that we have met our commitment to commence these payments in December and at a rate far in excess of last year,” Minister Doyle said.

The scheme is one of our key drivers

“The scheme is one of our key drivers in increasing Irish organic output, which will help us exploit the vast market opportunities internationally for this product.”

Minister Doyle added that the latest figures indicated that there were now some 72,000ha under organic production in Ireland, an increase of almost 50% since 2014.

He also announced that additional investment items had been included for grant aid under the Organic Capital Investment Scheme.

For more information or to apply, click here.

New investment items include:

Mower - mounted without conditioner.

Mower - mounted with conditioner.

Mower - trailed (with /without conditioner.

Mulcher mounted.

Mulcher /mower self-driven.

Straw chopper (mounted).

Straw chopper (trailed).

Haybob (combination of both raking and tedding).

Forage rakes.