The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) recently confirmed that the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) has reopened for applications.

The scheme is due to remain open for applications from all sectors until Friday, November 29, 2024.

Under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan there is a target of 10% of the country’s land area to be farmed organically by 2030.

Earlier this year, 1,050 additional farmers joined the Organic Farming Scheme meaning that the land area farmed organically is approximately 225,000ha (5%) with over 5,000 farmers in the scheme.

According to DAFM, the area farmed organically has tripled since 2020, while the number of organic farms has more than doubled in the last two years .

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Pippa Hackett previously said that she expects around 1,000 more farmers to join the OFS this year.

All applications to join the Organic Farming Scheme must be submitted online through the department’s agfood portal by the applicant or his/her advisor.

Organic Farming Scheme

In simple terms, the Organic Farming Scheme provides financial support to farmers to encourage the production of organic foods.

In order to be eligible for an OFS payment a farmer must produce livestock and/or crops according to European Union organic standards covering environment, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare.

Farmers undergo an inspection annually to ensure that they are in compliance with these standards.

Along with registering with the DAFM Organic Unit, applicants will need to register with, and be approved as, an organic operator by an organic certification body (OCB), such as the Irish Organic Association (IOA) and the Organic Trust.

Applicants will also need to hold an organic licence on or before date of submission of OFS application or at the latest hold a licence from the commencement date of their scheme contract which will be January 1, 2025.

Converting a conventional farm to fully organic status typically takes two years.

Land

The minimum organic farm area required to participate in the OFS is 3ha, except for horticultural producers where the minimum organic farm area required is 1ha.

The department will consider horticulture applications of less than 1ha where accounts are provided by the applicant to show they are managing a commercial enterprise.

The land in the scheme has to be either owned or leased by the applicant – who must be an active farmer – for a minimum of five years and for the full duration of the scheme contract period.

The land must be declared on the applicant’s annual Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for the duration of the contract period.

A field of barley

Partial conversion of a holding is allowed under the OFS, which may be an option for farmers with different enterprises.

However, the department noted that conditions apply in cases of partial conversion of a farm, including:

  • If both organic and conventional crops are to be produced, different species of plant, or different varieties that can be easily differentiated at all stages of growth and production, must be used;
  • If both organic and conventional livestock are to be produced, different species must be involved.

Existing livestock on a farm will never be classified as organic, but after the conversion period is completed those animals can be retained for breeding purposes.

Housing must meet certain requirements with at least half of the housing area to be of solid construction, bedded and fully accessible to livestock.

To be eligible for the OFS, farmers must maintain a minimum stocking rate, must comply with the Nitrates Directive and cannot exceed 170kg N/ha/year.

Farmers in the OFS must attend a 25-hour training course in their first year farming organically.

In the case of a joint application or a partnership application, at least one of the participants must complete the course.

A copy of the certificate showing successful completion of the training course must be uploaded on or before October 1, 2025, otherwise the annual payment cannot be issued.

Farmers participating in Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the Eco-Scheme may participate in and draw down payment under OFS but may not claim payment for certain actions.

Payment rates

The government enhanced the budget for organics to €256 million in Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan, with increased payments on offer for farmers.

The full breakdown of OFS payment rates by sector is listed in the table below:

SectorYear 1-2 (in conversion)
1 – 70ha
Year 1-2 (in conversion)
over 70ha
Year 3 – 5 (fully
converted)
1 – 70ha
Year 3 – 5 (fully
converted)
over 70ha
Horticulture€800/ha€60/ha€600/ha€30/ha
Tillage€320/ha€60/ha€270/ha€30/ha
Dairy€350/ha€60/ha€300/ha€30/ha
Drystock€300/ha€60/ha€250/ha€30/ha
Source: DAFM

An annual participation payment of €2,000 will also be paid to OFS participants in the first year of conversion and €1,400 for every subsequent year of the contract.

Farmers can find further information on the OFS from DAFM, the Irish Organic Association (IOA) and the Organic Trust.