09/9/08

Farm event is an opportunity to find out about organic conversion

An event to be held at Cappele Farm at Cwmpennaner, Cerrigydrudion, on 24 September will be an opportunity for farmers to see a farm that has recently gone into organic conversion, and find out more about the challenges and opportunities of organic farming. It is being organized by Organic Centre Wales as part of the Farming Connect Organic Development Programme.

‘For various reasons, but particularly because of the rapid increase in the price of artificial fertiliser, a considerable number of farmers have been asking us about going organic,’ said Phil Jones, Helpline Officer at Organic Centre Wales. ‘This event will be a great way of removing the mystique surrounding organic conversion, and should be useful to farmers who have already begun conversion or who are still contemplating it.’

The Williams family have been at Cappele for five generations, and have 249 ha of land in conversion, at an altitude ranging from 1000 to 1400 feet. They have 750 Talybont Welsh ewes and 80 suckler cows bred to the Stabiliser breed since 2000. Despite the altitude, rich soils support crops of barley, peas, arable silage and swedes.

All farmers are welcome at the event, which starts at 1.30 pm. Phil Hitchman of the Organic Advisory Service, who advised the Williamses on their conversion as part of the free Organic Conversion Information Service, will describe the farm and explain some of the challenges that they face as they move towards being fully organic in two years time. Heather McCalman of the Grassland Development Centre will lead a farm walk, looking at the key grassland issues that need to be addressed when converting to organic production. These include soil fertility and managing grassland to get the most from clover, which is the main source of nitrogen in an organic system and provides a protein rich feed for sheep and beef. A representative of the Soil Association, the certification body chosen by the Williams family, will be available to answer questions on organic standards and certification issues.

Ends

More information

Phil Jones, Helpline Officer, Organic Centre Wales, Aberystwyth University. Tel. 01970 622100, e-mail pij@aber.ac.uk. 

Notes for the editor

1. Organic Centre Wales is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government to provide information on organic food and farming to producers, food businesses, consumers and others. It is based at Aberystwyth University and run by a partnership consisting of the ADAS, the Organic Research Centre Elm Farm, and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University.

2. The Organic Conversion Information Service (01970 622100) is funded by WAG to provide information to producers considering conversion – an information pack and up to two free on-farm visits are available.

3. The Organic Farming Scheme is open for applications – further information can be obtained from WAG Divisional Offices and OCW. To qualify, farms need to be certified as organic by a recognised body and have completed an OFS application form which needs to be accepted by WAG.

4. Farming Connect, working closely with its partner organisations, provides one to one support, knowledge, expertise, training and advisory services tailored to the needs of farmers in Wales. Many of these services are fully funded or subsidised and the service is both flexible and accessible. You can register with the Farming Connect Service Centre on 08456 000 813 or contact Farming Connect directly at your nearest WAG Divisional Office. OCW is funded by Farming Connect to deliver the Organic Development Programme.

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