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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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Minister Pippa Hackett pictured visiting an upland high nature farm in the Slieve Blooms.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, today welcomed the results of an organic feed survey that indicates growing demand for organic feed of all types to meet requirements for next winter 2024/2025.
Minister Hackett said: “This survey shows growing demand for organic feed of all types to meet requirements for the winter 2024/25. Results show consistent growth following the organic feed survey carried out last year as regards demand for concentrated feed, straights and forage. It will help inform planting decisions this Spring.”
The survey took place against the background of a significant increase in organic farmer numbers and area over the past couple of years. Farmer numbers doubled to 4,000 in 2023, with another 1,000 farmers joining the Organic Farming Scheme in 2024. Organic land will reach 5% of overall agricultural area in 2024, and is well on target to achieve 10% by 2030, as set out in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.
There were 912 responses to the survey and, based on the replies, it is estimated that overall demand for concentrates will be in the region of 33,000 tonnes. Similarly, demand could be in the region of 20,000 tonnes for straights, 6,000 tonnes for protein crops (such as a pea/barley mix), and for 50,000 bales of fodder.
Minister Hackett concluded by saying: “Organics and tillage have been highlighted in FoodVision as an opportunity for farmers. These results show the growing demand for organic feed and the opportunity to increase the area of organic tillage in Ireland. There is an opportunity for an organic Irish mill as the sector continues to grow.”
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