Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has confirmed that more than €55.15 million in payments is now being issued to 4,858 farmers under the 2025 Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). The rollout marks the latest phase of the State’s ongoing push to expand organic production and support farmers transitioning to more sustainable practices.
Heydon said the Department had prioritised the timely processing of payments, with funds expected to reach farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days. He added that remaining applications are being handled “as a matter of urgency,” stressing the importance of financial support during both the conversion and maintenance stages of organic farming.
The Minister also reaffirmed that tillage farmers will receive priority access to the scheme in 2026, encouraging prospective applicants to submit their forms ahead of the 12 December 2025 deadline.
Ireland now has over 5,500 organic farmers, with approximately 5.5% of national agricultural land under organic production — a figure the Government aims to grow significantly under its climate and sustainability commitments.
The OFS is co‑funded by the Department and the European Union through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which supports food security, farm incomes and environmental protection across the EU. A total of €256 million has been allocated to the scheme for the duration of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
Guides, application supports and scheme terms are available through the Department’s website, alongside a dedicated MyAgFood chatbot for farmers seeking advice on organic practices.
