Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on whether the single farm payment entitlement based in the reference years 2000 to 2002 disadvantages farmers who receive lower payment due to extensive farming methods used, compared to an intensive farmer, and that organic farming should be a [i]force majeure[/i] category to ensure that the new system is not in effect penalising the most environmentally friendly farmers. [17397/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Producers who chose to farm extensively during the reference years were entitled to apply for extensification premium. This premium was in addition to any premia received in respect of the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes. Producers who received the extensification premium during the reference years will continue to have this premium reflected in their single payment entitlements.

Producers who participate in organic farming have access to additional payments through the rural environment protection scheme. The circumstances surrounding organic farming are not considered to satisfy the force majeure criteria under the single payment scheme regulations.