Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
292. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives, or schemes, his Department plans to enact to ensure the sustainability of Irish organic farming, with respect to the extreme costs a producer/farmer may expect to pay for animal feedstuffs such as grain, silage and hay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9226/15]
View answerUnder the Rural Development Programme I have proposed the introduction of a new Organic Farming Scheme to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. The principal support will be an annual area-based payment per hectare over a 5 year contract period. This rate is comprised of a higher payment for farmers converting land to organic farming for the first time, payable for the initial two year conversion period, with a greatly increased maintenance payment thereafter.
In recognition of the high cost of feed in the organic sector I have proposed the inclusion of an additional top-up payment of €30/ha to incentivise the growing of red clover as a source of high-protein, high dry-matter organic fodder and for its environmental benefits as a natural nitrogen-fixer.
The increased payment rates which are proposed for the different organic sectors are designed to compensate for additional costs incurred and income foregone by organic farmers. In addition to the Organic Farming Scheme, I am proposing a dedicated Capital Grant Scheme specifically for organic farmers. This will be based on the model developed under the last Programme which proved very effective in enabling organic farmers to purchase the specialist equipment they required.
The cumulative effect and the synergy between these various incentives and services are designed to achieve the stated objective of supporting the organic sector in Ireland.
