Mr. Padraic Finnegan:

The major problem with the scheme as set up in Ireland is that the cost is too high. By no means, do the premiums paid reflect the massive workload involved in organic farming. It takes a long time to grow a crop and there is waste because rushes and weeds cannot be sprayed. There is a lot of waste, even in the use of feed. I farm 30 ha of marginal land in east Galway and pay €3,000 for an organic licence for this term. There is no logic to paying that amount of money for a licence to operate an organic farm.