Low level supports for small farmers

Inadequate, late and anti-small farmer organic payments; the function and legitimacy of certification bodies and stocking rate rules which mitigate against hill farmers.

These were three of the main issues members of the Organic Farmers Representative Body (OFRB) brought to the attention of TDs and senators at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine debate in early October.

Padraic Finnegan, chair of the OFRB, pointed out that “the introduction of double funding has impacted very severely on farmers with a few hectares as they can no longer benefit from both the GLAS and organic schemes. A severe financial cut has been imposed on the smaller producer. We seek to have the schemes front-loaded to lessen the impact on those with small farms.”