Minister Hackett announces reopening of Organic Farming Scheme Priority access for young farmers
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett today announced that the Organic Farming Scheme will reopen to new entrants in the first week of March. The reopening, subject to EU Commission approval, is expected to result in an increase of up to 30% in the number of farmers farming organically in Ireland this year.
Announcing the opening of the Scheme, Minister Hackett said:
“I am delighted to be in a position to support the growing number of farmers in Ireland who want to farm organically. Organic farming embraces nature and natural processes to produce organic food, for which there is a growing demand both in Ireland and across Europe. And the reopening of this scheme, with the extra funding and scope for so many more farmers to join, demonstrates my department’s commitment to helping farmers cater for that demand.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has said the March reopening of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) is welcome, but that more is needed in terms of access to the scheme for cattle and sheep farmers.
ICSA Organics Committee chair Fergal Byrne said: “The opportunity for an additional 400-500 farmers to convert to organic farming is welcome; however, priority will once again be given to those in the dairy, tillage and horticulture sectors at the expense of drystock farmers.”
The association said that it is clear more will need to be done in terms of future investment in the sector.