ICSA Organics chair Fergal Byrne has welcomed the news that all farmers who applied for the Organics Scheme under the last call for applications will be admitted to the scheme. “ICSA understands that some 2,134 applications were submitted by the 9 December 2022 deadline and that all of those farmers are set to be accepted. Notifications of acceptance into the scheme are scheduled to be sent out over the next four to six weeks.” he said.

Mr Byrne was speaking following today’s meeting of the Organics Strategy Forum held in Backweston.

Mr Byrne said farmers will have another opportunity to join the Organics Scheme later in the year. “The scheme will open again for applications in October of this year, and I would encourage all farmers to consider the option of switching over to organic production.”