Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:251 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the acreage and variety of biofuel crops growing or proposed in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9353/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 March 2007
Ceisteanna (250)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department administers the Energy Crop Scheme and the Non-Food Set-aside Scheme, under the auspices of the Single Payment Scheme. The aid is granted in respect of areas where production is covered by a contract between the farmer and a processor, except in the case of processing undertaken by a farmer on his/her holding.
The closing date for the 2007 scheme is 4 May 2007, by which time applicants must have declared the areas being applied for under the above Schemes, on their Single Payment Scheme application form, and have submitted the appropriate contract to my Department.
The areas and varieties of crops sown under the relevant schemes in 2006 are:
Winter Wheat: 199.86 hectares; Spring Wheat: 34.92 hectares; Spring Oilseed Rape: 1,812.68 hectares; Winter Oilseed rape: 2,130.51 hectares; Willow: 54.03 hectares; Miscanthus: 120.23 hectares; Oilseed rape (general): 323.27 hectares.