merrion street

Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett announced today more than €5.3m is issuing to over 1000 farmers as the 2022 Advance Payments for the Organic Farming Scheme begin.

The Minister said,

“I am delighted to announce the commencement of the 2022 Organic Farming Scheme Advance Payments.  Payments issued today represent an increase of €1.3m compared to 2021.  My Department is committed to ensuring farmers receive their payments on time each year and in this regard, payments have issued earlier this year and will continue over the coming weeks to the remaining farmers. I would like to remind existing organic farmers whose contracts end this year they must apply to participate in the new scheme on agfood.ie by December 9th.”

The Minister added,

“In the past couple of years, there has been significant interest and growth in the Organic Sector, and we are focused on delivering the Programme for Government target of 7.5% of land under organic production. As such, these payments to organic farmers are vital to provide the necessary support for the maintenance and conversion to Organic Farming. I would also remind farmers that the scheme is currently open for applications until the 9th of December and strongly encourage anyone who wishes to apply to do so now. As I previously announced, from 2023 farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme will benefit from enhanced payment rates and the introduction of a participation payment.”

Minister Hackett also noted the activities of the Department in fulfilling a very full schedule of events and engagements to date in 2022 to bring a cohesive and strategic framework to support the Organic sector

• Ensuring a robust foundational support for Farmers and Producers through the Organic Farming scheme
• Raising the profile of the Organic Sector through the Organic Strategy forum, chaired by Padraig Brennan which explores all avenues to increase participation, raise the profile of Organics and ensure that all opportunities are identified and resourced appropriately.
• A dedicated Organic Village at the Ploughing Championship for the first time.

• Ongoing collaboration with counterparts in Teagasc and Bord Bia and across the Organic ambassador’s network in Europe to adapt best practice models to ensure the marketability of Irish Organics is well defined and gains a firm foothold in new markets.
• A five-fold funding increase in funding for the sector of €256M

Minister Hackett concluded by noting

“It is my commitment to farmers that we will continue to refine those parameters that will facilitate Farmers and producers to convert to Organic and develop into the future and ensure that their businesses continue to excel and reach their highest potential. The benefits of converting will ensure that the fundamental principles of improving environmental benefits for all and applying sustainable methods of farming create better outcomes across our communities.”

Notes on 2022 Advance Payments:

• These advance payments amount to 85% of the full annual payment offered under the OFS. The subsequent 15% balancing payment is expected to be made in May 2023
• At present, there are approximately 2100 organic farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme and annual payments under the Scheme will amount to approximately €13million.
• Approximately 110,000 hectares currently under organic production

The Organic Division in DAFM can be contacted on 053 91 63400 or by email to organic@agriculture.gov.ie