Do I need to register as a farm/producer of food?

summereire

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered before but I've been searching and can't find anything.

We've got a few acres of land that have some apple trees on them, and are now going to be planting more as well as growing some other foods (still deciding on exactly what).

Basically we're setting up a small farm, with the idea of selling the organic produce.

I'm aware of all the usual tax matters that arise in any business; notifying revenue, registering a business name, etc, but as I'm quite new to food growing I'm wondering is there any particular paperwork that I should fill out here / anyone I need to register with?

Any advice or pointers to resources on this would be much appreciated - we want to get it right from the beginning. It won't be big but it will hopefully do well in its own small way.

haybob

Well if you livstock you will need a herd number

summereire wrote: »

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered before but I've been searching and can't find anything.

We've got a few acres of land that have some apple trees on them, and are now going to be planting more as well as growing some other foods (still deciding on exactly what).

Basically we're setting up a small farm, with the idea of selling the organic produce.

I'm aware of all the usual tax matters that arise in any business; notifying revenue, registering a business name, etc, but as I'm quite new to food growing I'm wondering is there any particular paperwork that I should fill out here / anyone I need to register with?

Any advice or pointers to resources on this would be much appreciated - we want to get it right from the beginning. It won't be big but it will hopefully do well in its own small way.

summereire

Thanks for your help - probably won't have livestock - although possible in the future a few goats or pigs but nothing major.

For the moment it will just be fruit trees and planted vegetables, that type of thing, but we will be doing it commercially (not just as a hobby in the back garden).

I suppose I'm wondering if there is such thing as a 'farm' officially when it comes to producing food, and any organisations that I need to be in touch with or register with, or can anyone just start producing and selling?

tommylimerick

i don t think you have to register with
anyone
as a sole trader
just have to make tax returns and keep records

summereire

Thanks, that sounds simple enough then!

snowman707

e mail or phone Bord Bia,

http://www.bordbia.ie/Pages/Default.aspx


the girls there are usually extremely helpful, and will point you in the right direction.

agcons

If you plan on selling organic produce then you will need to register with one of the organic bodies. www.organic-trust.org deal with most of the organic food sellers/processors as well as a lot of farmers.
if you expect to draw any grants (such as the organic ones) or premiums then you will also have to register with the Dept of Ag.

Tora Bora

My old man God be with him, always said "don't tell 'em anything" .He wasn't wrong too often.:cool:

Corsendonk

If your going to grow spuds you need a grower number.

The legal basis for this register is contained in the Registration of Potato Growers and Potato Packers Acts, 1984 and 2004.

All commercial potato growers and / or potato packers must be registered under the above legislation.

The Register contains the names and addresses of persons or companies who grow potatoes for sale, pack potatoes for sale or carry out both functions. Each person or company on this register is assigned a unique six digit number at time of application called the registration number.

Potatoes may not be sold in a package unless they have been grown by a registered grower and packed by a registered packer. The package must display both the registration number of the registered grower and the registration number of the registered packer. A package has a broad definition encompassing any container in which potatoes are packed.

This register does not include details of persons who are not involved in commercial potato activity, i.e. they grow potatoes for their own use, and do not offer potatoes for sale. It is not necessary for such individuals to be registered.

Any enquires should be directed to Mr Dermot Flood/Mr Mark O’Connor in Crop Production & Safety Division (Potato Section), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Backweston Administration Building, Celbridge, Co Kildare, telephone (01) 5058804, fax (01) 6275994, email PotatoOnline@agriculture.gov.ie

agcons

Tora Bora wrote: »

My old man God be with him, always said "don't tell 'em anything" .He wasn't wrong too often.:cool:

My next door neighbour has the same attitude. Wont even draw the DA payments. Has lost thousands of euro over the years

summereire

Thanks everyone, all the advice is much appreciated. Seems that we are free to just get to it, and only need to register in the case of certain specific areas (livestock, potatoes etc) which we have no immediate intention of growing. Our primary focus for now is fruit, with some leafed vegetables and herbs. We'll then take it from there.

Muckit

snowman707 wrote: »

e mail or phone Bord Bia,

http://www.bordbia.ie/Pages/Default.aspx


the girls there are usually extremely helpful, and will point you in the right direction.

I agree with snowman, Bord Bia is the crowd to get on to. They are the main organising body in Ireland for everything around food (I suppose the clue is in their name....'Food Board'! ) If they don't know, nobody will!

Even their website has some very interesting and helpful links (esp also around farmer's markets and the rules and standards needed) I presume this is your route to market? Also some good tips on their about Farm shops and box schemes.

The very best of luck with your venture.