Organic crop answers
Organic crop answers
INTERESTED in switching some or all of your farm to organic cropping? Or maybe you have already taken the leap and youre seeking more advice? Whatever your background, the Organic Cereals & Pulses: Principles, Practicalities and Profits conference in November could answer many of your questions.
The high price of organic grain, exceeding £180/t, reflects the acute shortage of organic cereals and pulses for livestock feed, milling and distilling. These high prices provide a major incentive to convert, with statutory support for conversion offering additional encouragement.
These two conferences will focus on the technical aspects of organic grain production, emphasising the current practices, future prospects and new opportunities for organic cereals and pulses.
The conference fee of £55 covers attendance at the conference plus morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea, as well as the book of the conference proceedings.
REGISTRATION FORM
I wish to attend the Organic Cereals &Pulses Conference at (tick box)
Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, on Tue, Nov 6 2001 [ ]
Cranfield University at Silsoe, Beds, on Fri, Nov 9 2001 [ ]
Number of persons wishing to attend:…………………………
Name of each person wishing to attend: ……………………………………………
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Your address:……………………………………………………………………………….
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……………………………………………………………………..Post code………………
Please indicate whether you are a farmer/adviser/trade/banker/researcher/ other (circle as appropriate). Please enclose your cheque for £55 per person (VAT exempt), made out to SAC, and return by Oct 22, 2001 to: Mrs Sandra Chalmers (s.chalmers@ab.sac.ac.uk), SAC, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen AB21 9YA (01222 711080, fax 01224 711293).
PROGRAMME
Tue, Nov 6, Edinburgh
Fri, Nov 9, Silsoe, Beds
09.30 Registration and coffee
10.00 Welcome and introduction
10.10 The market for organic cereals and pulses – Brian Wilburn, Gleadell Agriculture
10.40 Species and varietal choice – Bill Cormack (ADAS) and Dick Taylor (SAC)
11.10 Tea
11.40 Species and varietal mixtures – Martin Wolfe (EFRC)
12.00 Rotations and nutrient strategies including stockless systems – L Philipps (EFRC), S Briggs (AOC), S Hexham and Debbie Sparkes (University of Nottingham)
12.30 Weed control: preventative and reactive methods – Ken Davies (SAC) and James Welsh (EFRC)
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Maintaining grain quality: feed, milling, distilling – Dick Taylor (SAC) and Mike Carver (ARC)
14.25 Production of quality seed on-farm – Jane Thomas (NIAB) and Roger Wyartt (Organic Seed Producers Company)
14.50 Tea
15.20 Commercial farm case study: cereals – Jeremy Sharman, Aberdeenshire, and Richard Steele, Worcestershire
15.50 Commercial farm case study: pulses – David Wilson, Gloucestershire
16.20 Close of conference