Written answers
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Organic Farming
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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729. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times the application window for the organic farming scheme has been extended in 2022; the dates of such extensions; the number of applications received by week; the targeted number of total participants in 2022; the targeted number of new participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26250/22]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Organic Farming Scheme opened for new applications on 9thFebruary 2022 with an original closing date of 8thApril 2022. This closing date was extended once to 22ndApril 2022.
The table illustrates the number of applications received by week
| Week | No. of Applications |
|---|---|
| 9th Feb - 13th Feb | Two |
| 14th Feb - 20th Feb | One |
| 21st Feb - 27th Feb | Three |
| 28th Feb - 6th Mar | Three |
| 7th Mar -13th Mar | Five |
| 14th Mar - 20th Mar | Eight |
| 21st Mar - 27th Mar | Eight |
| 28th Mar - 3rd Apr | 21 |
| 4th Apr - 10th Apr | 108 |
| 11th Apr - 17th Apr | 37 |
| 18th Apr - 22nd Apr | 184 |
| Total | 380 |
A budget of €21 million was allocated to the Organic Farming Scheme in 2022, an increase of €5 million from the previous year. The total area applied for in 2022 will not become clear until Basic Payment Applications are verified however it is estimated that an additional 17,000 ha will be farmed organically in 2022.
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