Organic Farming: Do you have what it takes?

At farm level in Ireland, the organic sector has now seen a 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 in the number of new entrants to Organic Farming in recent years, with about 70% being 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀.

What is the 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀?

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣: a two-year conversion period must be completed before a farmer is allowed to sell their produce as organic. As a starting point, after the suitability of organic production is discussed, a conversion plan may be drafted up, I can assist with this plan.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙚: permanent housing of stock is not allowed. Bedding materials such as straw should ideally be organic. 50% of the floor area should be bedded, while it is permitted to have the other 50% of the floor slatted. Stocking rate must also remain below 2 livestock units/ha.

𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: All synthetic chemicals, fertilisers etc. are prohibited. Crop rotations are key for successful organic production to maintain optimal soil health and productivity. Regular topping is necessary to maintain grass quality and control weeds particularly in mid-season. Due to the absence of artificial nitrogen, white clover may be introduced into pastures to maintain grass production levels.

𝙑𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮/𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙉𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Only in the instance that a health problem occurs should specific drugs be administered. Antibiotics and fertility drugs are not allowed. Routine preventative treatment of health animals is not allowed, with a focus on prevention rather than cure.

Where there is a dietary deficiency in home-grown organic feeds, supplementation is permitted. As organic concentrates are quite expensive, maximising the use of grass, home-grown grain, purchasing grain from other organic producers and having the correct breed and system which matches the land and market can reduce costs relating to feed significantly.

𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙠: all stock should be sourced only from organic producers. Limited availability due to lack of organic producers may allow you to purchase from conventional sources, these animals must undergo a conversion period.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚: a 25-hour “Introduction to Organic Production” course must be completed before acceptance into the DAFM Organic Farming Scheme.

𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: to apply for the Department of Agriculture Organic Farming Scheme, you must first obtain a licence from an organic control body, either Irish Organic Association or Organic Trust CLG.

As an element of the New CAP Agri-Environmental Scheme in 2023, organic farmers will obtain some 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆.

There are 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 to farming organically – Economic and Environmental. 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, there is market demand for organic products and the price has been stable. The grass-clover and multispecies (grass-clover-herb) swards, in comparison to perennial ryegrass monoculture can 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 that would otherwise be inputted through fertiliser nitrogen. These farmers are more 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 and therefore 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀, seeing an 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 while also 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀.

For 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, premium prices are available for organic milk and beef with relatively larger premiums for winter milk.

Several clients have recently shown interest in conversion to Organic, if this is an enterprise which may suit your farm system, contact me today to discuss!

𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 – 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 & 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.