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>Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 08:56:29 +0100
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>To: ecol-agric@mailbase.ac.uk
>From: nhl@aberystwyth.ac.uk (Nic Lampkin)
>Subject: 1995/6 Organic Farm Management Handbook
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>
>We are pleased to announce that the 1995/6 Organic Farm Management Handbook
>(2nd edition) edited by Nic Lampkin and Mark Measures is now available from
>(and published jointly by) the:
>
>Welsh Institute of Rural Studies
>University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD
>Tel: (01970) 622248 Fax: (01970) 622238
>E-mail: nhl@aber.ac.uk
>ISSN 1354-3768
>
>Organic Advisory Service, Elm Farm Research Centre
>Hamstead Marshall, Nr Newbury, Berkshire RG15 0HR
>Tel: (01488) 658298 Fax: (01488) 658503
>ISBN 1 872064 18 3
>
>Individual copies: UK =A310, Overseas =A313 (including postage)
>Trade and bulk orders (more than 5 copies): =A36 plus postage
>Payment should accompany orders for individual copies.
>
>Further information about the publication, including prefaces, foreword by
>Prof. John Nix (editor of the Farm Management Pocketbook published by Wye
>College), and the contents, follow.
>
>Preface to the first edition (1994)
>The idea for an Organic Farm Management Handbook has been several years in
>the making, but 1994 seems an opportune moment for it to be realised. The
>growth in interest in organic farming throughout Europe, and the
>introduction of financial support for organic farming in the United Kingdom
>and Ireland in 1994, mean that organic farming is on the brink of a major
>new phase in its development. Sound management information will be a key
>factor in this, supported by the increasing availability of first-hand data
>from MAFF-funded and other research programmes.
>We have attempted to compile data from a range of sources to provide best
>possible estimates for the physical and financial performance of organic
>crop and livestock enterprises. Our initial estimates have been considered
>by a panel of experienced organic producers and modified in the light of
>their comments. It is inevitable, however, that in a publication of this
>type, particularly the first issue, some errors will creep in. As editors,
>we must accept full responsibility for these, but we would be grateful for
>feedback if calculation errors are noted. We would also welcome feedback on
>the content and style of the different sections. We have included a
>feedback sheet which can be cut out and returned to us with your comments.
>We would like to acknowledge the willingness to assist and helpful comments
>received from organic producer members of British Organic Farmers/Organic
>Growers Association, as well as other producers and researchers who
>commented on the initial drafts of this handbook. We owe a big debt to the
>researcher/contributors Tony Pike, Hugh Bulson, and Christopher Stopes who
>did much of the ferreting around for information on the earlier versions of
>the handbook. Thanks are also due to Susanne Padel for advice and comments
>on the technical content. Finally, we acknowledge financial support from
>the EC for the collection of financial data under research contract AIR
>3-CT92-0776.
>Nic Lampkin
>Lecturer in Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Sciences,
>University of Wales
>Mark Measures
>Senior Advisor, Organic Advisory Service, Elm Farm Research Centre, Newbury
>July 1994
>
>Preface to the second edition (1995/6)
>In the 12 months since the first edition was published, there have been a
>great number of developments affecting the organic sector in the UK. The
>rules and payment rates for arable area and livestock premium payments have
>changed significantly. The support programmes for organic farming under the
>European Union's agri-environment programme are finally operational. New
>markets for organic produce are opening up, including opportunities for
>vegetables through expanded box schemes and processing for baby foods, for
>milk through new co-operative marketing and processing ventures, and for
>meat and cereals through new export opportunities to countries such as
>Denmark where consumer demand has increased dramatically.
>There has also been substantial change in the organic sector elsewhere in
>Europe. The most dramatic change has been in Austria where organic farming
>is expanding at more than 100% annually and now accounts for nearly 10% of
>land use, with more than 23,000 farmers managing 335,000 hectares
>organically in 1995. Organic farming in the European Union continues to
>grow at an average 35% per year, with 48,000 farms and 1 million hectares
>certified organic or in conversion in 1995. The expansion in supply is
>making it possible for more companies to consider using organic ingredients
>for their mainstream brands, allowing organic food to emerge from its
>traditional niche market image.
>In this edition, we have responded to comments received, and have simplified
>the presentation of many of the gross margins. We have included some new
>data relating to pigs and poultry, although these are based on very limited
>data and need to be treated with caution. We have introduced new sections
>highlighting market developments and changes to organic production standards
>over the last year. Lastly, we have included an index to make finding
>information easier.
>We hope that readers will find the new information of use and that this
>edition will be as successful as the first. Any comments would be very
>welcome, as would more producer participation in the annual consultative
>panel and monthly price survey (see response sheet on the next page).
>As last year, our thanks are due to all the researchers, contributors, and
>producers who have helped with the production of this handbook. We are also
>very grateful to Professor John Nix for his foreword and for permission to
>extract data from his Farm Management Pocketbook for the Fixed Costs Section
>of this Handbook.
>Nic Lampkin and Mark Measures
>September 1995
>
>Foreword by Professor John Nix
>For some years now organic farming has "come of age", in the sense that most
>thinking people in agriculture accept it as being a serious alternative to
>"conventional" farming. It was not always so. Indeed the present writer
>can recall that he himself, not all that long ago, was one of those
>describing it as "muck and mystery" - though he now admits to feeling rather
>ashamed of having done so.
>The reasons for this change of attitude are not hard to find. It is not to
>do with many farmers and growers being absolutely dedicated to the system,
>virtually as an act of faith. This has long been the case, though certainly
>the numbers have been substantially increasing in relatively recent years.
>Worries concerning the environment and health effects of agrochemicals are
>shared by many people, whether or not they are scientifically valid. Many
>consider the wasteful cost of providing surpluses that are apparently
>incapable of being distributed to the millions of undernourished people in
>this world to be nonsensical. These surpluses cost a great deal to store
>and to dump (let us admit it) on the world markets; and the latter distorts
>international trade and creates animosity between nations. Then there is
>the most positive point. There is an increasing demand for organic
>products, owing mainly to health concerns (again, whether or not these are
>valid) and this demand is being met largely by imported produce.
>The economics of organic versus conventional farming can be argued to and
>fro: lower yields and variable cost being offset by premium prices, etc.
>Certainly, though, there is no point in pro-organic farmers overstating
>their case. If it were definitely more profitable there would be many more
>farmers taking it up. It has to be accepted that the conversion period is a
>serious problem financially. It has required a new subsidy to attempt to
>overcome this difficulty and persuade more farmers to take up the system.
>The introduction of this subsidy proves the Government's acceptance that the
>system has advantages to the nation.
>A major difficulty has been a lack of research into organic farming and of
>data specific to it. This handbook goes a considerable way to overcoming
>the latter. It is packed with relevant, practical information on organic
>production, based on widespread research and survey data, prepared by people
>long steeped in the subject. As the author of the long-standing Farm
>Management Pocketbook I applaud it. I introduced a measly two pages in my
>18th edition, seven years ago. I have known ever since that I should expand
>it, but I baulked at the thought that it could end up a very long section,
>and anyway I did not have the data. Now I do not have to worry. In my
>latest edition I have simply referred all those interested to obtain a copy
>of the present, excellent specialist publication.
>John Nix
>December 1994
>
>Contents
>
>Section 1 Introduction 1
>Why an Organic Farm Management Handbook? 1
>What is organic farming? 3
>The nature of the organic farm business 4
>Gross margins and organic farming systems 6
>
>Section 2 Marketing 8
>Marketing and the organic premium 8
>Market outlets 9
>Market developments in 1994/5 10
>Organic food promotional events 12
>Marketing and processing grants 13
>
>Section 3 Certification 15
>Organic farming production standards and legislation 15
>Developments in 1994/5 16
>UK Register of Organic Food Standards 18
>Soil Association Organic Marketing Co. Ltd. 19
>Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd. 20
>Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association (Demeter) 21
>Scottish Organic Producers Association Ltd. 22
>Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association 23
>International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements 23
>
>Section 4 Converting to Organic Farming 24
>The conversion process 24
>Conversion costs 27
>Conversion planning 29
>UK Organic Aid Scheme 30
>Republic of Ireland organic farming and conversion support scheme 32
>
>Section 5 Crop Production 33
>Crop husbandry principles 33
>Permitted input costs 35
>Crop production subsidies 38
>
>Section 6 Arable Crop Gross Margins 44
>General information 44
>Wheat 46
>Barley 48
>Oats 50
>Rye 52
>Triticale 52
>Beans 54
>
>Section 7 Field-scale Vegetable and Horticulture Gross Margins 57
>General 57
>Prices and marketing costs 59
>Potatoes 62
>Carrots and parsnips 64
>Beetroots and swedes 66
>Leeks 68
>Onions 70
>Brassicas 72
>Broad beans 76
>Raspberries 78
>Strawberries 80
>Coldhouse cucumbers and tomatoes 82
>
>Section 8 Forage Crops and Green Manures 84
>Forage/catch crops 84
>Green manures/cover crops 86
>Undersown forage 88
>Grassland 88
>Forage row crops 91
>
>Section 9 Livestock Production 93
>Organic livestock husbandry 93
>Livestock feed nutritional values and prices 98
>
>Section 10 Livestock Gross Margins 100
>Milk production 100
>Beef production 104
>Sheep production 108
>Pig production 111
>Poultry production 114
>
>Section 11 Whole Farm Gross Margins 115
>Whole farm output, variable costs and gross margins 115
>Arable systems 116
>Dairy systems 118
>Beef/sheep systems 120
>Specialist horticultural systems 122
>
>Section 12 Fixed Costs 123
>Land 123
>Labour and machinery costs 123
>Manure handling and storage 128
>Buildings and other capital assets 130
>
>Section 13 Environmental Management 132
>Environmental management and organic farming 132
>Hedges, woodland and forestry 133
>Landscape and nature conservation schemes 135
>Agri-environment programme 138
>Rural Environment Protection Scheme (Republic of Ireland) 141
>Environmental advice and further information 141
>
>Section 14 Sources of Further Information 142
>Events 142
>Publications 143
>Organic Advisory Service (Elm Farm Research Centre) 144
>Centre for Organic Husbandry and Agroecology (Aberystwyth) 145
>
>Section 15 Addresses 146
>
>Section 16 Index 150
>
>Nic Lampkin
>Welsh Institute of Rural Studies
>Stapledon Building, Penglais Campus
>University of Wales, Aberystwyth
>GB-Dyfed SY23 3DD.
>Tel: +44 (0)1970 622248
>Fax: +44 (0)1970 622238
>
>
***************************
Nancy Grudens Schuck
Graduate Student
Department of Education
Kennedy Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, Ny 14853
ng13@cornell.edu
***************************