Deadline: 09-Dec-22
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett announced that the Organic Farming Scheme is open to new applicants.
The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the Department's Rural Development Programme. Drystock farmers entering into a contract could qualify for yearly payments of up to €300 per hectare during the conversion period and up to €250 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status. Higher payment rates are available for organic horticultural and tillage farmers. In addition, an annual participation payment of €2,000 in the first year of conversion and €1,400/annum thereafter has been introduced to support organic farmers.
Eligibility Criteria
Participants who wish to avail of the Scheme must:
- Be an active farmer
- Be registered with the Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
- Be registered with and be approved as an organic operator by one of the OCBs and hold a licence on or before date of submission of OFS application or at the latest hold a licence from the commencement date of their OFS contract.
- Be aged eighteen years or over on the date of application.
- Declare all land farmed in the applicant’s name on the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS)
- Have already participated in Supplementary Measure 6 (SM6) of REPS 1, REPS 2 or REPS 3 or previous OFS or must successfully complete an Approved Training Course and upload the formal Certificate of successful completion on the on-line OFS Application System on or before 1 st October 2023. In the case of a joint application or a partnership application, at least one of the participants must complete the course.
For more information, visit Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/53ca9-minister-hackett-announces-opening-of-organic-farming-scheme-to-new-entrants-following-huge-interest-at-farm-walks-across-the-country/