Farmers seek change to organic scheme housing requirements

"This is a real impediment for many due to the scarcity of straw and massive cost."

Under the rules, at least 50% of the minimum internal floor area required for animals must be of solid floor construction, and covered with ample straw or litter.

Consideration must be given to changing requirements around housing winter cattle in the Organic Farming Scheme, a farm organisation has said.

Housing in existing slatted sheds should be facilitated, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association said, with its organics chairman Fergal Byrne saying there is a lot of "ambition when it comes to targets for organic farming, but there are barriers to making that transition".