organic farming

Points were not implemented in the last tranche, everyone who applied was taken in regardless of enterprise type. I suspect that the next tranche will be the same, with even a few tweaks, like higher max payments rates probably over 100Ha and a lower min stocking rate, probably to mirror ANC stocking rates.

Pippa is pushing for these changes so that it encourages larges chucks of hill farmers to join so that she can say she got a the area in organics up to 4/5% singlehandedly.

Yeah and should fill the requirements of the eco scheme as well.

There's talk that the double funding issue that Bass (I think it was Bass who mentioned it) will be sorted in the next round of CAP which should see double payments for organics and the next GLAs/REPS scheme on the same ground allowed.

Yes the upper limit atm is 60ha after that the payment drops to €30/ha so nothing really. Commonage can be used with the right paperwork but you won't get an organic payment for it as it stands

Would be happy to see that alright, have ten hectares in GLAS in LIPP that I don't get an organic payment for.

I'm not sure would I hold my breath though, I think the push will be to get more people into organics overall and the two certification bodies will be delighted to get more annual fees from new entrants.

It was oversubscribed three years ago, lots of lads felt like they were burned and didn't apply again the most recent time. 3 years ago it was opened with dairy and tillage lads in mind for priority. I think if the restrictions for entry were relaxed, then you'd have plenty applying for it. Other factors for the relaxed stocking density for hill farmers would make thing a lot easier too.

Only stock born on the farm can be sold as organic, rams or bulls can be bought from anywhere and there's an allowance for non organic breeding females each year, they have to be either maiden or in calf heifers/hoggets so they will never be organic themselves but stock from them can be sold as organic. Hope that's not as clear as mud.

A big crowd at it. Pippa Hackett, dept, teagasc, both organic orgs, glenisk, Nigel Renaghan, all well represented.

Farm looked well too.

Maybe. In 2023 for new entrants I think?

Best to talk to an Agri advisor, but if you do go into the scheme you'll go into a two year conversion period where you'll get 220 euro per entitlement and 170 per entitlement after full conversion. Keep in mind that you won't get an organic premium for land that might be in GLAS, your stocking rate is also quite low, I'm not sure what the minimum rate is but that might need to be looked at. It's also suprising you need to spread fert at all with such low numbers but I'm not sure of your situation, maybe your sell bales separately.