Organic farming in Ireland has grown fast since the Organic Farming Scheme expansion — about 225,000 ha were under cert or conversion by the end of 2025, nearly four times the 2020 figure. The problem most new organic farmers hit isn't the rules, it's the supply chain. Half of what your conventional neighbour drops into their tractor cab is off-limits, and the certified equivalents aren't always stocked by the nearest merchant. Here's the realistic 2026 sourcing map.
The two cert bodies in Ireland
Your purchase decisions are framed by whichever one certifies you. Both accept the other's approved inputs, but always check the approved-inputs list before you order.
- IOFGA — Irish Organic Association, the older body, widely used in tillage and dairy.
- Organic Trust — the other main certifier, common in beef and mixed farms.
Both publish a register of approved inputs on their websites; the EU Annex II list is the fallback reference. A product used without checking the approved list is a compliance risk, not a shortcut.
Organic feed — what Irish farms use
Concentrates & rations
- Cooneys (organic ration specialist, Carlow) — widely used in dairy and beef.
- Mulkear Mills — Irish-milled organic feed.
- Connolly's Red Mills — organic lines alongside conventional.
- Cowans — organic compounder, national delivery.
Forage & straights
- Organic beet pulp, oats, peas and field beans — most sourced through Cooneys / Mulkear, or direct from organic tillage farms via DoneDeal Farming or word of mouth.
- Organic hay and silage — listings appear on IOFGA member boards and on regional Facebook groups; straight-from-farmer is usual.
Organic seed & reseed
EU rules require organic seed where commercially available. Where it's not, a derogation is granted for conventional untreated seed. Your cert body manages the derogation — you can't just buy conventional and argue the point later.
- Goldcrop — organic grass and clover mixes.
- Germinal — several certified organic mixes.
- Seedtech — cereals and protein crops.
- DLF — multi-species mixes suitable for organic stipulations.
Fertiliser & soil
No synthetic N, P or K. What you can use:
- Rock phosphate — limited solubility but allowed.
- Sulphate of potash — specific natural forms only.
- Lime (calcium & mag) — standard liming rules apply.
- Calcified seaweed — sourced from Celtic Sea Minerals and a few smaller Irish harvesters.
- Composted farmyard manure & slurry — on-farm or traceable organic source.
- Digestate — only from approved AD plants feeding organic-origin material.
Pest & disease control
You're down to cultural methods, resistant varieties, mechanical control, and a tight list of approved natural products.
- Copper fungicides — allowed up to the current EU cap (4 kg/ha/year), tightening.
- Sulphur — fungicide, usable in fruit & tillage.
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) — biological insect control.
- Pheromone traps & mating disruption — horticulture / fruit.
- Flame weeding — tillage & horticulture standard.
Suppliers: Fruit Hill Farm (Cork, horticulture focus), Quickcrop (tools, smaller scale), Certis Ireland and the main agri-chem distributors for the commercial-scale organic-approved lines.
Animal health — what's allowed
Natural remedies first, then allopathic only with vet involvement and extended withdrawal periods (2× conventional, minimum 48 hours for milk). Common organic-friendly lines:
- Sea-salt minerals, kelp meal.
- Herbal boluses (branded & bespoke).
- Apple cider vinegar + garlic-based tonics.
- Homeopathic remedies — not scientifically robust but permitted; use alongside conventional where welfare demands.
Where to buy — in order of practicality
| Channel | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated organic compounders (Cooneys, Mulkear) | Rations, straights | Bulk delivery, organic-only yards |
| Fruit Hill Farm (Cork) | Horticulture inputs, seed | National delivery, strong catalogue |
| Quickcrop | Small-scale tools, seed | Smaller orders, domestic scale |
| Co-ops (Dairygold, Tirlán, Kerry) | Some lines, fertiliser equivalents | Ask for organic-approved SKUs — not always shelf-front |
| DoneDeal Farming / IOFGA boards | Forage, manure, farmer-to-farmer straights | Traceability must be maintained |
Source organic-certified inputs in Ireland
Tell us what you're buying and which cert body you're with. We'll match you with Irish suppliers who carry approved stock.
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