Burgeoning demand for organic arable crops in the UK and
increasing reliance on imports has prompted experts to call for
more co-operation between organic producers.
Organic crop imports made up 60% of total use in the UK in 2007,
with the figure predicted to rise to 70% for 2008, delegates at a
recent North Yorkshire seminar organised by the three Northern
Organic Centres -
north-west, north-east and Yorkshire - were told.
About 200,000t of tradeable organic cereals and proteins were
needed to meet current annual demand.
Growers would have to more than double their acreage to achieve
UK self-sufficiency, said Stephen Briggs of
Abacus Organic
Associates.
What's needed
"We need more organic livestock producers to grow their own
crops for home feeding.
"But this could present a challenge on some livestock units,
which may lack the necessary equipment and the technical
expertise," said Mr Briggs.
"We have already seen a move towards localised co-operation
between organic arable and livestock producers, but the principles
need to be extended on a more regional basis."
Some successful inter-regional partnerships had already been
established, Mr Briggs added. For example, one Norfolk grower was
producing organic sugar beet to feed dairy cows in Leicester.
Lower fixed costs
He said lower fixed costs were an incentive to growers
considering organic production. "If a farm is in the situation
where investment is needed in machinery and storage, then it makes
sense to produce a lower volume of crop with a higher value.
"This may not apply to modern units that have the equipment and
facilities to handle large quantities of conventional crops."
Mr Briggs refuted the suggestion that arable-only systems would
struggle to achieve adequate soil structure and nutrient status.
Some organic arable units had been operating successfully for more
than a decade, he said.
The key was to plan rotations carefully to include undersown
green manure crops like red and white clover, vetch and peas or
beans.
Rotational choice
Rotational choice was also all-important in the battle against
weeds without the use of herbicides.
"The less competitive crops like wheat should be grown earlier
in the rotation, followed by triticale or oats, which are better
equipped to cope with competition from weeds.
"Organic growers actually tend to have fewer problems with weeds
like
blackgrass and
sterile brome than conventional producers, because weed
reduction is likely to figure more prominently when they are
planning their rotation."
Conversion
Producers reluctant to convert their entire acreage to organic
conversion should select their best quality land for organic
production, said Mr Briggs.
Partial conversion could be worthwhile, but growers should
calculate the minimum area needed to produce marketable quantities
at harvest.
He also advised conventional growers to investigate demand for
organic produce, by gathering information from local millers and
specialist organisations.