Archive Article: 2000/03/03
Mike Rowland
Mike Rowlands 141ha
(350-acre) Bowden Farm,
Burbage, Wilts, is in organic
conversion, with 32ha (80
acres) fully organic from
Oct 99. Potatoes, carrots,
wheat and peas will rotate
with grass for suckler cows.
At Amesbury 404ha (1000
acres) is in conventional
seed production
SPRING is just around the corner and our organic grass has already come to life.
At a recent Soil Association seed meeting it was made clear that the SA might remove organic status from growers using conventional seed when organic seed is clearly available.
NIAB has shown that it is prudent for organic growers to sow seed that is inherently free from seed-borne disease, and wheat and bean seed tests, which are currently available, are being further developed. Disease can quickly build up when least expected in an organic situation, so clean seed is vital for farm-saving.
Blackgrass and other weeds can also build up, so buying higher priced seed is not as expensive an option as it first appears. New seed of the latest variety or blend with the best vigour and low inherent disease should achieve higher yields, too. Most importantly, using organic seed, whether farm-saved or bought in, completes the organic cycle, which is what the public expects.
On our conventional farm we have completed our first top dressing with 27% nitrogen, 30% sulphur. Cereals had 124kg/ha (50kg/acre) of product and oilseed rape 250kg/ha (100kg/acre). Ploughing is also finished and we are ready to drill when the soil warms up.
Flavour of the month seems to be to set aside half your farm and sack half your staff. With interest rates at twice the level on the Continent and such a strong £, that might suit some smug politicians – on both sides of the House. Investment is pouring into the country, but 80% of the farming industry is losing money. We are grateful to Mr Blair for his environmental help, but his £ is too strong; we cannot compete on export markets and imports are unreasonably cheap.
Is this of concern to the public? I think so. Only too frequently imports are inferior to home-grown produce, but packed and labelled as if they were British. Such dishonest labelling must be stopped.n
The government must realise that sterlings strength is forcing some to consider set-aside and staff cuts, says Mike Rowland (left). But jobs are safe on his Wilts unit, he stresses.