Requests must be submitted within the framework of the Single Application for the 2025 CAP, with a deadline of May 15, with a total budget of 8.25 million euros.
April 30, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development
The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development has opened the period for owners of agricultural holdings in Castilla y León to apply for inclusion in agri-environmental aid for organic farming and beekeeping for biodiversity improvement, within the framework of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The Director General of Community Agricultural Policy, Ángel Gómez, announced the details of the call during a visit to the organic cattle farm of Mariano Calle Martín, in Puerto del Tremedal, in the town of Solana de Ávila. A livestock farm that has demonstrated the technical and economic viability of this production model since 2005.
During the visit, Ángel Gómez emphasized that «organic farming needs clear support from the administration, especially in the early years, when producers face the challenge of adapting their agronomic practices to this model. With this call, we recognize the environmental value of these practices and support new producers in their conversion.»
Budget of 8.25 million
The call aims to incorporate new commitments for the period 2025-2029 and is endowed with 8.25 million euros: 7.5 million for organic farming and 750,000 euros for beekeeping.
In the case of organic farming, the amounts are higher in the early years to facilitate the adaptation of farmers or breeders to new techniques, and gradually decrease once the practice is consolidated, at which point «the value of organic production must sustain their income,» affirmed the Director General.
Those who have completed previous commitments in 2024 as well as new operators who have registered as organic operators before September 30, 2024, can benefit from these aids. This is the third call within the Strategic Plan for the CAP 2023-2027. With the two previous calls, 1,361 farmers with an area of 83,084 hectares have joined the multi-year contracts.
Beneficiaries of the aid sign a five-year commitment to carry out various practices that benefit the environment, as well as to market the organic production obtained.
The final amount of the premium varies depending on whether the holder is in conversion, has had previous organic contracts, or if their entire operation is organic. As a rough guide, amounts range from 132 euros/hectare for forage surfaces to 275 euros/hectare for irrigated herbaceous crops. The aids are granted on a competitive basis.
Youth beekeepers
In the case of aid for beekeeping to improve biodiversity, 594 beekeepers with over 169,000 hives have already committed to five-year agreements in previous calls. Payments for the 2023 and 2024 annuities totaling 4.8 million have been made to date.
The call is specially designed to accommodate young beekeepers who have recently entered this activity. «We want agri-environmental aid to support the efforts of those who have chosen to start their professional career in rural areas,» Gómez pointed out.
Requests must be submitted within the framework of the Single Application for the 2025 CAP, with a deadline of May 15. A simplified presentation model has been provided for the agri-environmental aid request to have the dual effect of requesting inclusion in multi-year contracts and requesting payment for the 2025 CAP annuity.
For those who have already submitted their Single CAP 2025 application, they can modify it between May 16 and 31 by including the new request, adding parcels where organic farming practices are carried out, and identifying apiary locations.