IFA Seeks Meeting With Andrew Doyle Over Organic Farming Scheme

Members of the IFA are seeking an urgent meeting with Minister of State, Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle, following the rejection of over 75% of applications under the re-opened Organic Farming Scheme.

Just 55 out of a total of 225 that applied in November last year were eventually accepted into the scheme, despite these farmers having full organic registration.

The latest figures indicate there are 72,000 hectares under organic production in Ireland, an increase of nearly 50% since the start of the programme in 2014.