Extension to lands under the Organic Farming Scheme

IOA raised concerns with the DAFM that the current scheme does not allow the farmer to bring in additional lands under the new OFS terms and conditions, this condition has now been removed. Iofga are pleased to inform you that all current OFS participants may bring in additional lands under their current OFS contract, ie does not require another OFS to open to bring new new lands if you are already in the OFS.

It is important to note however that:

• OFS participants who are finishing their OFS contract in 2016 will not be eligible to add land to their existing contract – this is because the rules require that land can only be added   in Years 1-4 of a contract;
• OFS participants who are finishing their OFS contract in 2017 will only be eligible to add land to their existing contract under Section 11a – this is because land that is brought in under Section 11b must be held under contract for at least two years and therefore may only be added in Years 1-3;
• OFS participants who are finishing their OFS contract in 2018 are eligible to add land to their existing contract under Section 11a and Section 11b.

All OFS participants will be advised that the revised Terms and Conditions will be available on the Departments website.

Section 11 of the Terms and Conditions of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 of OFS 2015 will now read as follows: 

1. Adding Land to an Existing OFS Contract

Where additional land is acquired in the course of an approved contract and it is desired to bring this into payment the following will operate:

1. Where the additional land is already under contract with another OFS participant, the participant may apply to transfer this land to their existing OFS contract. This must be done by submitting   an Application Amendment Form (OFS 1 AM) to the Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford any time between 1^st January of the year in question and the closing date that year for BPS applications (at the latest). Applications to bring such additional land under contract may only be submitted in years one, two, three or four of the applicant’s original contract.  Payment on this eligible additional land will only be considered if the land is included  in the participant’s organic licence  from 1 January of the relevant year in which case a full year payment will be made; part-year payments will not be made.
2. Where the additional land is not already under contract with another OFS participant and is being converted for the first time, or is in process of conversion, or has completed conversion within the calendar year prior to the date of application herein, the participant may apply to add this land to their existing OFS contract. This must be done by submitting an Application Amendment Form (OFS 1 AM) to the Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford any time between 1^st January of the year in question  and the closing date that year for BPS applications (at the latest). Applications to bring such additional land under contract may only be submitted in years one, two or three of the applicant’s original contract. Payment on this eligible additional land will only be considered if the land is included in the participant’s organic licence from 1 January of the relevant year in which case a full year payment will be made; part-year payments will not be made.
3. It is important to note that if the additional land has already been converted to organic production and has completed conversion prior to the timeframe specified in 11b above i.e. has completed conversion within the calendar year prior to the date of application herein, and is not already under contract with another OFS participant,  then such land is ineligible for addition to an existing  OFS contract. Such land can only be brought into payment by way of a separate contract, which in turn can only issue in response to a general call for new applications.

NOTE: Land cannot be added to an existing OFS contract in year 5.