The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Budget 2025 allocation is set to include €91 million for forestry, according to Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett. This figure marks a decrease from the €110 million allocated in Budget 2024. Minister Hackett emphasized the significance of the €1.3 billion budget supporting the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which will drive the implementation of the Forestry Strategy in the coming years.
Since the launch of the programme, over 6,000ha of new afforestation licenses have been issued by the department. With investments in operational efficiencies, the department is poised to meet the Climate Action Plan target of 8,000ha of new forests. Minister Hackett highlighted that the €91 million funding for forestry in Budget 2025 will sustain the diverse tree planting options available through the Forestry Programme, urging farmers to explore the various opportunities it presents.
In addition to forestry, Minister Hackett underscored the government’s commitment to organic farming, with a budget allocation of €67 million for organic farming measures in the upcoming year. This funding will enable the expansion of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) to new applicants. The allocation represents an increase from the €57 million designated for the same purpose in the previous year’s budget. Minister Hackett also announced a €3.5 million investment in the Organic Processing Investment Grant (OPIG) Scheme.
For the horticulture sector, Minister Hackett revealed that €8.5 million has been secured through the department’s Budget 2025 allocation. Furthermore, horticultural growers who planted declared field-grown crops in 2024 as part of their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application will receive the €100/ha tillage payment outlined in the budget. Minister Hackett emphasized that this allocation builds on the department’s support for the horticulture sector, fostering investment, innovation, and diversification for the benefit of producers and consumers.
Among the key measures outlined by Minister Hackett are €2.75 million for the red clover silage and multi-species sward measures, €6 million for phase 3 of the National Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme (with applications set to open later this month), and €500,000 for the Rural Innovation Development Fund, primarily aimed at bolstering the budget for social farming initiatives.
