One thousand farmers are being given €4m in advanced payments under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), the Minister of State for Agriculture confirmed.
Under the terms of the scheme, farmers can qualify for annual payments of up to €220 per hectare during the conversion period and up to €170 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Pippa Hackett, said: “One of our clear commitments to farmers is to issue scheme payments when they are due and I am delighted to say that these payments are issuing on schedule again this year.”
The payments made will be worth 85 per cent of farmers’ total payments and the 15 per cent balancing payment is expected to be made in May 2022.
Senator Hackett praised farmers in the organic scheme and said they earn these payments because they are delivering enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits, while responding to the market demand for organically produced food.
The scheme will reopen in January 2022 for new applications to join the 1,765 organic farmers currently participating in the scheme.
LSL News.