Senator Pippa Hackett, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, yesterday announced proposed new enhanced rates for farmers participating in the organic farming scheme. These are subject to approval by the European Commission as part of the ongoing discussions on approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, and would apply from 1 January, 2023.
Announcing the new rates the Minister said: “The budget proposed for this scheme under the next CAP is a five-fold increase on what was previously available. This is my commitment to growing and investing in the Irish organic sector. Feedback from the CAP consultative committee, the reconvened Organic Strategy forum and interested stakeholders has made it clear that enhanced payment rates are needed to support farmers converting to and maintaining organic farming.”
The Minister added: “Organic farmers incur additional expenses on an annual basis such as attending training and constantly upskilling themselves in soil health and animal management. In recognition of these costs I am proposing an annual participation payment of €2,000 in the first year of conversion and €1,400/year thereafter. This will support farmers as we achieve the targets set out in the programme for government of farming 330,000 ha organically.”
In order to allow farmers and advisors assess the increased level of support of these new rates a payments calculator has been developed and will be available: Here