Grants scheme launched to encourage farmers to go organic

Farmers will be paid up to €220 per hectare of their land while converting to organic farming under a new scheme launched yesterday.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Tom Hayes announced details of the Organic Farming Scheme during a visit to organic meat processor John Purcell in Golden, Co Tipperary.

Co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the programme offers increased rates of aid to organic farmers during the conversion process and also when they are fully established.