Organic farm payments
Steven Matthews asked when organic farm scheme payments would issue and when new applications would close. The Minister for Agriculture said payments would start on 7 December and the closing date for new entrants would be 8 December.
The organic farm schemes in this country have been quite successful and quite attractive to farmers, with the increase in their incomes and the better impact on our environment. I pay thanks to the work of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Ministers of State, Deputy Heydon and Senator Hackett. When will the organic farm payment be paid out? It is coming close to Christmas and everybody needs their payments. When is the closing date for new entrants to the organic farm schemes?
Comment on this
This is a key priority for the Government and something on which the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has led out very strongly. It has been great to see the very strong uptake and interest in organics following the fivefold increase the Government has allocated under this CAP to support organic farming. Payments for existing organic farmers will start on Thursday, 7 December and continue from then on. The closing date for new applicants will be on the following day, Friday, 8 December.