Organic Farming Scheme

The sector continues to grow in prominence with the latest intake bringing participation to over 5,700. Over 5.5% of utilisable agricultural lands are now destined to be farmed organically.

With organic farming now using 5% of Irish farm land with a target of growing to 10% Emmet Doyle, Organic sector manager Bord Bia reports on finding markets for this expanding category.

Only a fraction of Ireland’s organic feed requirement is produced domestically, with the Department of Agriculture hoping for an increase in tillage participants in the latest intake.

The sheep trade, SCEP training, Dairy Day, shed design and nitrates all feature on this week's Farm Tech Talk.

High payment rates are said to be encouraging more sheep farmers to consider converting to organic farming before the 2024 deadline of 29 November 2024.

The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to farmers and associations involved in the Organic Farming Scheme to see how manageable the conversion to organic is.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Minister of State with responsibility for organics Pippa Hackett have announced the scheme’s reopening.

Budget 2025 is coming down to the wire in being firmed up, but there is very little room to fund new measures in agriculture.