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The major
review of agri-environment schemes was carried out over
the last two years. A consultation exercise closed before
Christmas 2008 and the Minister made an
announcement on 5 May.
There has been a similar
review in
England.
Organic Farming (Conversion) Scheme
The
Organic Farming Scheme was designed to support farmers during conversion
to organic production and to support continued organic production.
The scheme was revised during 2007 to provide additional support for
growing horticultural and fruit crops, but due to unprecedented
levels of interest the scheme closed to new applications in October
2008: see Ministerial statement.
The
Welsh Assembly Government has recently announced the opening
of a window of application for the Organic Farming
Conversion Scheme from 15-30 September 2009. Download
application forms and explanatory booklets
and
further information from OCW.
There is some capacity to assist in the preparation of
applications and conversion plans through the Organic
Conversion Information Service. However, we expect demand to
services to be very high during this period so please
contact the OCW helpline on 01970 622100 or
organic-helpline@aber.ac.uk as
soon as possible if you require assistance.
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There is always free support and guidance available for farmers wishing to
consider organic conversion through the Organic Conversion Information
Service (OCIS). Follow the link for more information.
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Tir Gofal
Tir Gofal is now closed due to the move to the Glastir
scheme.
Tir Cynnal
This Welsh entry-level agri-environment scheme (see
Assembly Information) has been closed prior to the move to the new
Glastir scheme.
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Organic action
plans build on the idea that it is possible to influence the development
of organic food and farming by political means. This is in line with the
belief that the general development of food and farming is influenced by
agriculture policy in most Western countries and, in particular, by the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU. (see
http://www.orgap.org/internal/orgapet/ )
The first Welsh Action Plan was developed in 1999 and
the need for a second
Organic Action Plan
was identified in 2003 and it was launched in July 2004.
The second Action Plan for Wales focused more on
developing the market for organic products, so that an increased
land area target is pursued in the context of market development.
The main body
overseeing the Welsh Organic Action Plan is the Organic Strategy Group,
supported by FMDD through the
Agri-Food partnership.
In 2009 the Action Plan is
being reviewed to fit with the new Food and Drink Strategy which is
being drafted by FMDD. If you would like to be more
closely involved, please contact
Caryl Jenkins of the
Food and Markets Development Division (FMDD) in the Welsh Assembly Government.
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For a comparison of the second Welsh Organic Action Plan with the European
Organic Action Plan,
click
here
and more on organic action plans and evaluation see the
Orgapet project. |
This is the source of much
funding in support of rural Wales.
The European
Council
Regulation on support for Rural Development (from the European Agriculture
Fund of Rural Development (EAFRD)) sets the framework for rural
development support programmes including agri-environmental and Leader schemes for
2007 – 2013.
The
Wales RDP
consists of 4 key areas for action (Axes):
Axis 1 – Improving the competitiveness of the Agricultural and
Forestry Sector
Axis 2 –
Improving the Environment and the Countryside
Axis 3 – The
Quality of Life in Rural Areas and Diversification of the Rural
Economy
Axis 4 - LEADER
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The Plan will run
from 2007 – 2013 with a total budget of £795 of which £195
million represents the contribution from EU funding sources.
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A copy of the
approved Rural Development Plan is available here.
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Sue Fowler,
Director of Organic Centre Wales is on the
Wales Rural Network
which was set up to support the implementation and
evaluation of the RDP through the exchange of good practice
and experience.
AXIS 1
Applications to the Processing and Marketing and Supply Chain
Efficiency grant schemes (under Axis 1) may now be submitted.
OCW worked with organic sectoral businesses
and has been granted Supply
Chain Efficiency funding to support the organic sector in Wales.
See the
Better Organic Business Links webpage. If you would like to be involved please contact
Sue Fowler.
Organic Centre Wales runs
the Organic Development Programme as part of
Farming Connect.
AXIS 2
See above for information on the Organic Farming
Scheme, which falls under Axis 2 of the RDP.
AXES 3 & 4
Organic Centre Wales has provided an information page on accessing
Rural Development Plan funds under Axes 3 and 4: see:
http://www.organic.aber.ac.uk/markets/rdp07.shtml
Full details, scheme guidance and
accompanying Annexes and Guidance Notes can be found on the Assembly’s
website.
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The European
regulation governing organic food and farming is now
EC 834/2007
and the detailed implementing rules are EC
889/2008 which must be read together.
With the exception of the import regulation, the new
Regulation has come into force from 1st January 2009.
There has been an amendment relating to the compulsory use of the
logo
EC 967/2008.
There is a government
Guidance Note on the new regulation
IFOAM maintains an
Info page with information on the revision
of the European Regulation. You can
access all important official (and less official) documents from
this website, all documents from IFOAM EU (starting from the EU
Action Plan), the position of EU-level and national stakeholders,
research projects, Presidency compromise papers etc.
IFOAM has also released a dossier on the new
regulation which can be viewed and downloaded
here. This offers expert views
on legal, production and processing, import and fair trade, control
and certification aspects of the new regulation.
The Organic Revision Project may be of interest. This was research
carried out to support revision of the EU
Regulation on organic agriculture. See
www.organic-revision.org .
The review of the old regulation
followed from recommendations in the
European Action Plan.
See OCW's
Technical Note on the new
regulation.
Link to
OCW page on organic standards and
certification
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The Food
Standards Agency has informed the industry that melamine has been found
in organic soya for livestock feed imported from the People's Republic
of China. Producers and processors are instructed to quarantine
and test any possible batches. See FSA letters
here and
here.
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Organic certified ruminants must be fed 100%
organic diets.
To avoid unnecessarily
high feed bills farmers can contact the OCW helpline
(01970 622100) for information, including ways of adapting
their systems so that they are less reliant on bought-in
feeds.
For non-ruminants species, a gradually
declining maximum of non-organic feed is permitted:
- 10% up to 31st December 2009,
- 5% 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2011.
The figures are to be calculated annually as a percentage
of the dry matter of feedingstuffs from agricultural
origin. Maximum daily intake would be 25% by dry matter. See the OCW
factsheet
(Cymraeg) |
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See also item on
proposals for Regulation changes
The organic standards are gradually tightening on the amount of
non-organic seed that can be used. Defra issued a statement in
September 2008 delaying the requirement for 70% grass and forage seed to
be organic until 2010. See the letter
here.
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See the
Welsh Assembly Government site for the latest
information.
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TB affects
Trioni
Very unfortunately
the home herd of Pembrokeshire organic dairy
business, Trioni, has had to slaughter a large
part of its herd because of TB, but they are
confident that business can continue as usual
using alternative supplies of milk. |
Following a positive test on a home bred sheep in Dorset in
February 2008,
from 1 September 2008 Wales is now a Bluetongue Protection Zone -
on 23 September the Minister issued a strongly worded
statement
commenting on the disappointing uptake of vaccine and
emphasizing
that
"Farmers that do not vaccinate are not only gambling on the
future health of their livestock and security of their
livelihood but that of their neighbours and the national
sheep flock and cattle herds."
See
the latest on Bluetongue on the Welsh Assembly Government
website .
OCW met with other organic stakeholders and the VMD
in London on 2nd March 2007, prior to a UK wider forum on sheep
scab meeting.
The Standards sub-group of the Organic Strategy Group
met in June 07 to discuss the results of an
HCC survey on
ectoparasites that was carried out in late 2006. OCW has
prepared a factsheet
(Ffeithlen
Cymraeg) on the information gathered and
ran events for farmers in Winter/Spring 2008.
tp://
The standards
The EU Regulation governing organic farming allows the use of
OPs.
The Soil Association, however, do not allow their symbol to
be used on livestock treated with of OPs;
therefore affecting those licensed with Soil Association
Certification Limited.
For treatment options see the
checklist produced by the NSA
For past
consultations see here.
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Subject
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Source |
Action |
Deadline/Terfyn amser |
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Programme of Action on Climate Change |
Welsh Assembly Government |
TBA |
2nd October 2009 |
This page has been prepared by Sue
Fowler - please provide any feedback or comments directly.
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