Farmers will be left ‘high and dry’ by suspension of organic grant aid

GRANT aid to organic farmers is to be suspended by the Department of Agriculture, leaving farmers “high and dry”, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association.

In a surprise move late on Thursday, Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Trevor Sargent announced that the grant aid schemes for the development of the organic sector would be suspended for new applications with effect from yesterday.

Mr Sargent acknowledged that the uptake of the schemes was a sign of their success, but said the organic sector had developed to a point where investment costs could be reflected in the price of produce instead of being externalised.