€8.4m to be paid towards the 2024 Organic Farming Scheme balancing payments
The commencement of the 2024 balancing payments under the Organic Farming Scheme was announced by the minister of agriculture Martin Heydon.
The payments are set to amount to €8.4m in total. Over 81% or 3,961 farms enrolled in the Organic Farming Scheme will be receiving their balancing payments this week.
Regarding the roll out of payments minister Heydon said: 'I know how crucial payments are to farm families and I am pleased that this year's payments are being made a full month earlier than they issued in 2024.'
Approximately 1,000 extra farmers are receiving balancing payments compared to last year. There are now approximately 5,500 organic farmers in Ireland farming an estimated 248,000 ha.
Currently, the number of ewes listed on an organic system has trebled in the last three years, and the number of organic sucklers has also doubled. The minister also commented, saying: 'Demand for Irish organic oats continues to outstrip supply and highlights the ongoing opportunities in organic farming.'
All new entrants into organic farming in 2025 must complete a 25-hour training course before they are eligible to receive these payments.
Concluding, minister Heydon said: 'The European Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food, which prioritises generational renewal, aligns with our own FoodVision strategy in identifying organic farming as an opportunity for young farmers and a way to attract the next generation of skilled Irish farmers into our sector.
"This is one of the most important tasks we face and must be a priority in shaping our policy for the future.'
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