Organic Horticultural Seed Trials in Wales

Under the organic standards, producers are required to use organic seed. However, a derogation can be obtained from the appropriate certification body that allows the use of (untreated) non organic seed where appropriate organic material is not available. There are, however, a number of barriers to the wider use of organic seed including: • Many of the industry’s standard varieties are not available in organic seed. The lifting of the derogation would oblige growers to use varieties of which they had little of no experience • By extension of the previous point, many popular varieties will no longer be available on the organic markets. It uncertain whether retailers, and in turn their customers, would accept alternative varieties • There is little information on the agronomic performance of varieties that are available in organic seed, making variety choice a difficult decision for growers. • The quality of organic seed is perceived to be of lower quality in terms of viability, vigour and freedom from pest and disease problems than conventional seed. As of 1 January 2004, growers cannot obtain a derogation on the basis of quality, and this potentially brings an element of urgency to the situation. In the long term the organic sector remains committed to lifting the derogation on a crop-bycrop basis as and when conditions allow, and the industry needs to be prepared for this eventuality. This work aims to make a contribution to this end by providing information on the performance of varieties that are available in organic seed, thus helping growers to make a more informed decision about variety choice. The trials were carried out at Welsh College of Horticulture, and were funded by Farming Connect. They were coordinated by Organic Centre Wales as part of the Farming Connect Organic Development Programme. Objectives The objectives of the trial was to assess the performance of selected varieties grown from organic seed in terms of: • Germination • Vigour • Uniformity • Pest and disease incidence • Yield • Marketable yield (as percentage of total yield) • Fault

Market Review of the Welsh Organic Horticulture Sector, 2007

The supply situation for Welsh organic horticultural products Organic production in Wales has been developing steadily in the last five years, with particular emphasis on organic cattle and sheep production. This was despite over-supply conditions in some sectors, notably dairy, following the very rapid growth in 1999/2000. Looking further back there was a time when horticultural production represented a considerable proportion of Welsh organic output and played a significant role in the development of the organic market as a whole. Between the end of 2002 and end of 2005, the number of holdings increased by 12% to 688, and the certified land area increased by 29% to 71 thousand hectares, of which more than 90% is grassland. Growth in Wales has exceeded other parts of the UK, reaching 5% of agricultural land by end 2005. More rapid growth is projected for 2006 and possibly 2007. There is however little evidence that this is mirrored in the horticulture sector -if anything there has been a reduction in the horticultural production area. The latest Defra statistics show that there has been a decline in organically managed horticultural land in Wales from 722 hectares in 2003 to 649 hectares in 2005. Actual output of Welsh fruit and vegetables is more difficult to quantify reflecting a continuing need for improved statistical data to support market development and the delivery of public policy. Better data is available for the UK as a whole but a significant effort will be needed to dis-aggregate the output data for Wales. The UK data show the overall organic market increasing to £1.6bn in 2005 and the organic vegetable market increasing at a faster rate despite falling back in absolute terms. UK organic horticultural land is increasing but not at the same rate as the market. It is predicted that UK self sufficiency (which has increased to 62% over the last four to five years will fall away as imports increase to fill the widening gap between UK production and UK consumption. Organic farm gate prices for fruit and vegetables have been under continuing downward pressure over the last five years and this fact has been cited as one of the contributory facts behind the relative lack of horticultural land coming into conversion. These pressures do not necessarily bear directly on the localised marketing that is common among Welsh organic producers but supermarket prices do provide something of a benchmark for such operations. There is evidence of significant price increases in the conventional sector following last summer’s heat wave but it remains to be seen if these are reflected in the organic sector. The original market intelligence report published in 2004 provided a useful starting point for this review. The majority of producers who has seen it found it useful but they were a relatively small number of those that were asked. A number of extremely useful and pertinent recommendations were made and these will be reviewed in the conclusions to this report i.e. to what extent were they taken up? A grower survey was undertaken using a detailed telephone questionnaire and a 56% response achieved from a list of 110 producers. Highlights included the fact that the 62 respondents represented some 83 hectares of horticultural output, a figure that is at odds with the Defra statistics even when allowances are made for non-respondents. 75% of respondents were marketing locally in one form or another while labour issues were seen as the most common restraint. Growers felt that the market was expanding and many were confident abut the future though a significant number had given up or were giving up for reasons of age, health, etc. In terms of market information there was a strong response for price information and also market trends. This was followed by a trade survey that included box schemes, small retail outlets and wholesalers. All those questioned were unanimous that demand for organic produce in general and Welsh organic produce in particular is running at unprecedented levels. Traders are finding it extremely difficult to source the produce they need from Wales and are therefore importing it from countries such as France and Holland. A significant proportion (up to 60%) of this produce could be grown in Wales. Difficulties cited included lack of support payments, low profitability, certification fees, a reluctance on the part of growers to expand, and the increasing age of the present grower base. It is possible to use these responses and set them alongside the wider data to generate a market assessment for organic fruit and vegetables in Wales. Using the assumptions of the earlier market intelligence report we can arrive at an estimate of the potential market for organic fruit and vegetables in Wales of £32.3m across all outlets. Organic Monitor reports a sharp increase in demand for fruit and vegetables in 2006. Set against this is the progressive reduction in both real and relative terms of the Welsh production base for organic horticultural produce. It is difficult to produce an estimate but it is unlikely to exceed the estimate in the earlier report of £1.3m. What is clear is that the gap between production and demand is widening at a rapid rate. It is possible to generate profits through the growing of organic horticultural crops but a rigorous financial analysis is essential before embarking on such a course. SWOT analyses from earlier reports are discussed and placed in the present day context. Familiar issues of unsuitable infrastructure, topography, isolation, lack of cooperation, availability of labour and poor returns feature both then and now. There are a number of opportunities arising from the developing, public procurement and consumer support for Welsh produce. The major issue is however the threat to the existing grower base and an inability to address the many opportunities because of a lack of new entrants. Recommendations Despite the generally positive outlook from a demand perspective, there is a need to address some of the factors that might discourage producers from converting, including disruption to the Organic Farming Scheme, price levels that do not always reflect the costs of production, access to markets and a distinct lack of support for the sector. To address this, there is a need for: • better statistical data on current and future production levels and market shares; • consideration should be given to the development of an organic price exchange service possibly in conjunction with other agencies and organisations • continued efforts to support producer groups in developing markets for organic fruit and vegetables and in seeking to achieve realistic prices; • wider publicity of the potential demand and market opportunities for organic horticultural produce through a series of events, articles and other media coverage; • the re-vamping of and wider publicity for the present Organic Market Wales as a contribution to the wider publicity effort; • enhanced payments through the OFS; • a distinct arm of the Farming Connect service that addresses the needs of horticultural producers; • more linked planning of events with other development centres, companies, organisations, etc. • an increasing focus on education in order to signpost opportunities for young people; • a linking mechanism for putting new entrants to the sector in touch with land owners interested in renting land, share-farming and share-cropping; • improved production systems, supported by effective research and development and knowledge transfer; • a key area for development is the encouragement of protected cropping systems along with a sympathetic approach from planning authorities • a clear identification of suitable areas for both conventional and organic horticultural production along with guidance on how to deal with the particular soil types and prevailing climate • improved integration of effort between organic sector businesses and the agencies that support the development of the Welsh horticultural and organic sectors; • joint working arrangements with Organic Centre Wales, Horticulture Network Wales, Centre for Alternative Land Use, Welsh College of Horticulture, machinery rings and others – this could lead to a virtual centre where growers could access: o market intelligence information o land availability o machinery and machinery ring contacts o information on labour and available skills o technical information and advice • better linkage with the dairy, arable and red meat sectors to benefit from complementarity relationships between the sectors at production, market development and promotional levels

Market Review of the Welsh Organic Arable Sector, 2007

The supply situation for Welsh organic arable production Organic production in Wales has been developing steadily in the last five years, with particular emphasis on organic cattle and sheep production. This was despite over-supply conditions in some sectors, notably dairy, following the very rapid growth in 1999/2000. The area of organic arable production has tracked this increase albeit at a lower level. It is also a more complex situation than might be thought because of the different ways in which a cereal crop or mixture might be harvested. This sector is one of the least surveyed in the UK with the exception of the annual Scottish Organic Market Link Producer Survey carried out by SAC with SEERAD funding. Between the end of 2002 and end of 2005, the number of holdings increased by 12% to 688, and the certified land area increased by 29% to 71 thousand hectares, of which more than 90% is grassland. Growth in Wales has exceeded other parts of the UK, reaching 5% of agricultural land by end 2005. More rapid growth is projected for 2006 and possibly 2007. The arable area reported to Defra shows an increase over the period 2003 to 2005 (reported as end of January 2004 to end of January 2006) from 1958 ha to 2358 ha. This represents a 20% increase over the period at a time when organic grassland of all types increased by 34%. The UK position for the supply and demand of organic cereals is giving considerable cause for concern at the present particularly in the area of organic livestock feed. This has been brought about by marked increases in organic milk, pork, egg and poultry sales along with continuing expansion of the red meat sectors. This has led to a considerable imbalance that is likely to get worse over the coming years, something that will be amplified by changes in the standards with respect to non organic feed allowances. It is estimated that the UK is around 60% self sufficient in home produced feed grain – the shortfall is made up of imports from around the world and a number of factors are threatening the security of supply from many of the exporting countries. The calculations involved are subject to a number of crude assumptions and there is universal agreement that there is an urgent need for information and regularly updated statistics. Actual output of Welsh arable producers is extremely difficult to quantify precisely because it is not monitored with the regularity and at the level of detail of other sectors. Two sets of figures are available but they are difficult to compare because one relates to areas planted while the other is concerned with outputs. A producer survey was undertaken using a detailed telephone questionnaire. This was not a simple exercise as it proved difficult to obtain information from certification bodies. This meant that it was difficult to identify advance those producers that were growing arable crops. 209 producers out of a total of 502 livestock producers were contacted, responses received from 102 (a response rate of just under 50%) and 40 of these were arable producers. This cohort represented 913 ha of arable production or 29.5% of the total organic arable area in Wales. 39% of the arable crops grown by respondents were planted as mixtures (usually a cereal/protein mix), a notable difference from earlier surveys. Of the pure stands wheat comprised the largest area followed by barley, oats, triticale and beans in descending order. 50% of the crops surveyed were harvested as whole crop and 47% as grain with a total yield of 1,458 tonnes. In the year under survey the highest proportion of a single crop harvested as whole crop was wheat while oats constituted the largest harvested grain crop, results that were somewhat at odds with other work but are almost certainly a result of what was a hot, dry season with low silage yields. Only 455t of grain was actually marketed with barley accounting for the highest proportion and wheat the lowest. Yields as reported by the farmers contacted tended to be on the low side with respect to standard figures in the Organic Farm Management Handbook although oats were slightly better. Triticale was particularly poor at around 50% of standard yields. The same cohort of respondents reported reduced areas for the 2007 season, an overall reduction of 21% on 2006 figures, and an anticipated reduction in grain to be marketed (16%). Producers reported that poor producer prices are a disincentive to growing grain for the market, a somewhat surprising conclusion given the recent strong movements in organic cereal prices. Transport costs are a significant factor as the crop has to be moved out of Wales to grain merchants and/or feed mills. Extrapolation of the above figures is recognised as a risky and imperfect process but it does raise a number of questions of concern not least the existence of a decline when overall conversion and livestock numbers are increasing This was followed by a trade survey that contacted both the grain trade and compound feed producers. The responses were not all encompassing but covered 75% of the active traders in numerical terms. The responses indicated that very small quantities of grain are supplied into Wales for processing – most grain traded moved to other producers within Wales. The vast majority of feed is imported in the form of compound feed and on the basis of the responses received totalled some 13,600 tonnes for the 2006 season. Allowing for non responses it is estimated that the actual figure was around 16,000 tonnes – 11,000 t for ruminants and 5,000 t as poultry rations. Feed compounders are working on the basis of demand increasing by around 20% year on year, partly as a result of changes to the standards. It is estimated that the demand for poultry feed will increase to 9,000 t in 2009 while ruminant feed is predicted to increase to 19,000 t in 2009, a total of 28,000t. It is suggested that the cereal and protein crop requirements will be in the order of 50% of the total i.e. 14,000 t each. There is a very low level of protein production in Wales and this demand will almost certainly be fulfilled through the use of imported sources of soya. A SWOT analysis was undertaken that concluded that there are more weaknesses than strengths but that there are a number of opportunities for increases arable production not least the strengthening of prices across the board. The area of most concern and seen as a serious threat is the reported 21% decrease in plantings for the current season. Recommendations Despite the generally positive outlook from a demand perspective, there is a need to address some of the factors that might discourage producers from converting, including disruption to the Organic Farming Scheme, price levels that do not always reflect the costs of production, access to markets and a distinct lack of support for the sector. To address this, there is a need for: • better statistical data on current and future production levels and market shares and a wider appreciation of the need for improved levels of self sufficiency; • greater publicity should be given to events and trends in the wider organic cereal market to ensure that Welsh organic livestock producers have all the facts when planning for the future; • a series of events, articles and other media coverage and special attention should be given to these issues in the Organic Market Wales e-bulletin; • enhanced payments through the OFS through a mechanism that replaces the previous AAPS rate; • the new Farming Connect service to focus on the potential for home grown feed when working with organic livestock producers; • an increasing focus on education in order to signpost opportunities for young people; • an evaluation of the potential for the establishment of an organic feed compounding operation in Wales – this could reduce costs and also provide market opportunities for arable producers; • improved production systems, supported by effective research and development and knowledge transfer; • parallel improvements in variety and mixture choices – this may involve new introductions, a re-evaluation of varieties deemed to have been out-classed and the development of landraces; • a clear identification of suitable areas for organic arable production along with guidance on what crops to grow in the particular soil types and prevailing climate • improved integration of effort between organic sector businesses and the agencies that support the development of the Welsh horticultural and organic sectors; • improved linkages with the dairy, arable and red meat sectors to benefit from complementarity relationships between the sectors at production, market development and promotional levels

EFRC Bulletin 77

EFRC's regular newletter covering policy, agricutlural research, policy and advisory wor

EFRC Bulletin 81 December 2005

EFRC's regular Bulletin with updates from the Organic Advisory Servic

Elm Farm Organic Research Centre December 2006

The Organic Research Centre. Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin with Technical Updates from The Organic Advisory Service is a regular publication from The Organic Research Centre. The current issue covers: Report from 2006 Cirencester Conference; Quest for more home produced organic food; in a world where bread matters; Improving wheat with plenty of parents; Unlocking the secrets of the ancient (cereal varieties); Brain food- a good read; Not to late to protect the future: The organic role; Bumper Oat yields- Tradis trials top ten tonnes; Multiage flocks- a viable solution to wheigh variability; Letters

Compost: the effect on nutrients, soil health and crop quantity and quality

The primary scope of this review is to provide evidence for the effects of compost as distinct from the effects of fresh or stored manure. It is intended to help advisers and farmers identify when the use of compost or a composting process is appropriate. This review does not address the detailed issues surrounding the various production of compost but includes some basic information with particular respect to on-farm composting operations. The differences between well-made compost and semi compost (single turned) that may be revealed by this review could inform decisions about the approach taken to composting in an on-farm situation. The specific issues addressed by the review will include: •The different types of compost available to producers, and their qualities and properties. •The role of composts in disease suppression and, where shown, the mechanism for any effects. •The direct and indirect effects on crop yields. •Detectable and measurable effects on crop quality (an appropriate definition of quality will be required). •The effects of compost applications on soil biology and organic matter levels, and the implications for carbon sequestration. •The most appropriate situations for the use of compost as opposed to fresh manure. •This has a particular relevance in the production of ready to eat horticultural crops This review does cover the use of bulky organic materials generated by fermentation or anaerobic types of process such as biogas generation, the use of compost teas and the use of compost(s) in growing media for plant raising and production

Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin 82 February 2006

Regular newsletter with technical updates from the Organic Advisory Service Issue covers: organic sector payments, dietary health choices, avian influenza vaccination, tradable quotas, feeding cities, sewage sludge, organic aquaculture, organic poultry, biodiversity and productivity research, organic winter wheat varieties, linking farmers and scientists, Interreg Project, RAFAEL energy use greenhouse gas emissions food and farming

OCIS Public Goods Tool Development

There has recently been an increase in interest amongst policy-makers in the question of whether farming provides a “public good” beyond the simple production of food, which justifies support from, for instance, EU agricultural policy. Benefits such as an improved environment or better water quality can be perceived to be public goods. It is the provision of these sorts of benefits which may be used in the future to justify continued support of the agricultural sector through subsidies. Given the current level of interest in this topic Natural England, with the approval of Defra, through OCIS (Organic Conversion Information Service), wished to create a tool which could be used by an advisor or an informed land owner to assess the public good provided by a/their farm. Thus, the OCIS Public Good Tool was developed

Elm Farm Research Centre Bulletin with Technical Updates from the Organic Advisory Service 80

A collection of technical, policy and research articles on organic food and food system