On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Gavin Grace spoke to Minster of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett about the push for farmers to turn organic.
This week, the Organic Farming Scheme was reopened and an increase of 30% in the number of applicants is expected.
Farmers entering the scheme could qualify for yearly payments of up to €220 per hectare during the conversion period and up to €170 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status.
Higher payment rates are available for organic horticulture and tillage farmers.
The IFA say that in 2018 “75% of applicants were refused admission due to a flawed points-based system which discriminated against smaller land-based applicants”.
Minster Hackett also addressed the scheme, the impact of Bank of Ireland branch closures on rural farmers and the possibility of a joint bid from the UK and Ireland to host the Football World Cup in 2030.
