The breakdown of fully organic land use in Wales mirrors that of the UK as a whole, the majority (88 per cent) of which is grassland or pasture for lamb or cattle, see Table 1. The proportion of non-organic land employed in crop production (either combinable crops or horticultural crops) is much higher than in the organic sector. However, this can be attributed to an imbalance between grazing land and cereal production in the organic sector.

For more detail on the key sectors of organic production in Wales, please select from the following links:

Livestock production 

Dairy production

Horticultural production 

Arable production

Table 1 Breakdown of fully organic land in Wales and the UK, April 2003

Source: Soil Association, 2003

Livestock production

Much of the recent expansion in organic farming in Wales has been associated with sheep and beef production. It is therefore no surprise that the majority of organic land in Wales is grassland and pasture - 36,536 (88 per cent).   

• This relatively new growth in red meat production raises implications for producers, processors, marketing and the effective development of the supply chain
• Data from organic certification bodies indicates that, in April 2003, there were around 5,700 organic cows, 65,000 lambs, 50,000 ewes, and just under 100,000 table birds in Wales, see Table 2
• Further information on the organic red meat sector is also available from Organic Centre Wales. A range of factsheets and reports are free to download, containing marketing intelligence, lists of meat processing facilities and producer/marketing groups, as well as in-depth analysis of the sector. See the market intelligence page

 Table 2 Organic livestock numbers in Wales, 1998/99 to 2002/03

- no data available

Source: Soil Association/Organic Centre Wales and data from organic certification bodies

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Dairy production 

In common with other types of organic production in Wales, organic milk has experienced a significant increase in capacity since 1998, see Table 2. 

• The volume of organic milk marketed in Wales grew from 4 million litres in 1998/89 to 36 million litres in 2002/03 
• The number of organic dairy farms in Wales rose from just 30 in 1998/99 to a peak of 147 farms in 2000/01. Conversion to organic dairy production was at its highest in 1999 and 2000 and is now levelling off due to falling prices and market saturation 
• This expansion was driven by good prices and demand for organic milk in 1998 and 1998, as well as financial support under the Organic Farming Scheme 
• In common with UK dairy producers as a whole, the rapid expansion of the supply of organic milk in Wales outstretched the demand 
• Implications for organic dairy farmers include lower prices, a surplus of organic milk not being marketed as organic, declining conversion, and some farmers withdrawing from organic dairying 

For the UK as a whole, it is predicted that the organic milk surplus could be swallowed up by rising demand by 2006. In Wales, steps are being taken to market organic milk through new and expanding processing facilities, as well as collective marketing by producer co-operatives. For instance, Rachel's Dairy have experienced significant growth in processing organic milk, yogurt and other dairy products, and South Caernarfon Creameries have entered the market. Calon Wen - the Welsh organic dairy farmers' co-operative - has been collecting milk since summer 2000. Farmer collaboration can also be seen through Trioni (Three Farms Milk) who process milk, including flavoured varieties, and sell it locally. There are also a number of organic cheese processors with a distinctive Welsh identity. (Source: Organic Farming in Wales 1999-2003, Organic Centre Wales.) 

To find out more about the production and processing of organic milk in Wales, as well as prospects for the market,  click here to read the latest Organic Centre Wales market intelligence report.

Table 3 Growth of organic milk production in Wales, 1998/99 to 2002/03

* Based on 1500-2000 non-organic or in conversion cows in 2002

Source: Soil Association/Organic Centre Wales and data from organic certification bodies

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Horticultural production

Organic horticultural production covered 513 hectares of fully organic land in April 2003. This accounts for 1.3 per cent of fully organic land, whilst the total horticultural land accounts for 1 per cent of the total agricultural area. Within these 513 hectares, the crop with the largest growing area is potatoes – see Table 4 for a breakdown of other crops.   The organic horticulture sector in Wales is significant for a number of reasons:

• Sales of organic fruit and vegetables in Wales were estimated at over £20 million in the 2002/03 financial year (including imports)
• Whilst organic horticulture covers a relatively small land area in Wales, this accounts for a significant proportion - 10 per cent - of the total horticultural land in Wales
• In comparison, for the UK as a whole, organic horticulture accounts for only 4 per cent of the total horticultural land area
• Organic fruit and vegetables are key drivers of local sales, direct from the farm to the consumer, such as box schemes, farmers’ markets and farm shops 
• Direct sales of organic food in the UK expanded by 28 per cent in 2002/03, to an estimated £93.3 million

More facts about organic horticulture:  

• In the UK as a whole, 32 per cent of all organic retail sales are accounted for by fruit and vegetables, estimated at £325 million in 2002/03
• Research carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) indicates that fruit and vegetables are the key entry points which attracted members of the public to making an organic purchase
• When UK consumers were asked which organic products they tried first, second and third, 55 per cent declared that they had tried fruit and vegetables first.

For detailed production statistics and to find out more about the challenges and opportunities facing Welsh organic horticulture, click here to download the latest Organic Centre Wales report.

Table 4. Breakdown of fully organic horticultural land use in Wales and the UK, April 2003

N/A - No equivalent UK data available for comparison

Source: Defra Statistics Department, 2003 and Soil Association, 2003

Table 5 Estimated land area of organic horticultural crops in Wales, April 2003

Source: Defra statistics Department, 2003 and Soil Association, 2003

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Arable production

• In April 2003, there were 1,648 hectares of fully organic arable land in Wales. This accounted for 4 per cent of the 41,381 hectares of fully organic land in the country  
• More information on organic arable production in Wales, including a breakdown of the land area and key crops will become available on this site in the future.

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