They say an army marches on its stomach (that sounds like a description of crawling to me, but still, we’ll go with it…) so it’s good to hear that the British Army is planning to start filling its stomachs with organic muesli bars.
Organic & Natural Business magazine reports that nearly two million of these bars have been ordered by the MoD for the troops from the Otter Valley Organic Food Company.
They are thought to be the first organic product to go to war!
Worrying results from a survey carried out by Graig Producers and Caledonian Organics suggest that up to half of their members could be thinking of reducing stock numbers or even pulling out of organic production.
The chief reason for this finding is cited as rising feed costs, something we’ve been raising the flag over for some time now at OF&G. We simply don’t have anywhere near enough organic arable farmers in the UK, despite the fact that there’s a good premium available for their product.
If the results of the Graig Producers survey bears any reality to the picture across the country it could be bad news indeed as demand for organic produce only continues to grow. The two groups have around 500 members (including OF&G licensees), although apparently the findings are extrapolated from just 83 responses - which probably gives a fairly wide margin for error, but is still telling:
Results from the survey of Group members, across Wales, the Borders and South West England, showed that 36% will reduce stock numbers, and a further 9% will leave organic farming, if feed prices remained at 2006 levels or above, and there was no increase in organic lamb and beef prices. In Scotland the figures were slightly lower at 23% saying they would reduce numbers, and 8% preparing to stop farming organically.
This is just one of the signal flares going up at the moment about the organic arable shortage, with a major UK processor about to start making justifiable noise on the topic too (I don’t think they’ve said their piece publicly yet though, so I won’t jump the gun and name them!).
The feeling here is that there’s an inbuilt nervousness about making the switch to organic from a spray-dependent system that many are comfortable with. And with general grain and protein prices high, the incentive to take any risk is hugely diminished. What more can the industry do apart from educate and inform farmers about the rewards of going organic? OF&G is taking more steps to do just that, but ultimately the decision is in the hands of the individual farmers…
Our friends at Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing charity, are flushed with joy at the moment with the expansion of their successful reed bed system which has been filtering their sewage for the past 15 years.
[Notes: I think that will be enough of the toilet humour and I have to hold my hands up to stealing Garden Organic's own headline - it was just too good not to use!]
Garden Organic has expanded the existing set up to cope with growing staff and visitor numbers at its headquarters in Ryton, Warwickshire:
The environmentally sensitive, wetland technology area disposes of all effluent generated on site with the help of gravity, a series of pools with graded aggregate filters and the purifying powers of the Common, or Norfolk Reed (Phragmites australis) to cleanse waste water without the use of chemicals.
But the best bit of all is that the entire reed-bed system has been allowed to develop into a broadleaf woodland conservation area covering more than two acres and turns what was nasty, noxious waste into a wildlife garden bursting with biodiversity.
Reed beds are a great concept - taking what is otherwise a potential pollutant and which has to be extensively cleaned or discharged into the landscape or ocean - and turning it into pure water and a wildlife habitat to boot!
You have to think (note lack of science or research behind that statement) that organic producers who have land available for such a system would be in the perfect position to create more reed beds in this country, taking their organic credentials to another level of commitment. Garden Organic are a great example and teacher.
On the day that we breathe a collective sigh of relief that the results of two more suspect
FMD cases have proved negative in initial tests, it is reported that there is growing concern among scientists that the deadly bluetongue virus is not far from UK shores.
The disease is a killer to livestock and is spread by midges, which makes it very hard to control, according to news from Organic Inform. Click here for the Organic Inform coverage…
It’s been a couple of weeks where you find yourself considering what’s really appropriate to write in a fairly lighthearted forum such as this blog. Most people in and around farming probably haven’t felt very lighthearted (better note that I’m referring to the Surrey FMD outbreak so that it makes sense if anyone looks at this in the distant future!).
So on that note I’ll stick to a bit of tale telling that might amuse a few:
Guesses welcome on which well-known agricultural college was responsible for a herd of stampeding heifers through a quiet village on Wednesday (yes, movement ban still in place). It seems they’d been moved to the adjacent yard from the field for a visit from the vet but the apparent lack of a qualified farm gate security technician (you can see what I’ve done there..) led to chaos.
It was with some surprise that householders gazed out of their windows to see about a dozen of the beasts chewing on their hedges while the rest took off hell-for-leather down the lane - in the direction of a busy B road.
Local info has it that the end result was a call to the police to stop the traffic while the round-up took place.
What can you say, apart from “whoops” and perhaps “I want my hedge back!”.
Having been assailed by the travails of our glorious leader to actually get onto the Royal Welsh site, we can now present a not-so-exclusive image of some of our team at the show.
I can confirm that model releases have been signed and any copyright issues settled to bring you the following photo of (left to right): Mari Jones, OF&G Inspector, Jenny Bibb, Certification Officer, and Research and Development Officer, Steven Jacobs.
It did cross some mischievous minds to open this up as a caption competition, but Jenny is already mortified at our choice of photo anyway!
Next time you see us at a show, don’t forget to drop by for your stylish new OF&G pen…
Another show, another battle through the quagmire. These pictures (taken by Chief Exec, Richard) illustrate the trials of getting into the ground for the Royal Welsh Show.
After queuing for two-and-a-half hours to get the assistance of one of the two tractors assigned to “drag ‘em in” duty he was finally hauled across the mire to leave his car in the bog and get on with the day’s business.
The good news is that the show itself has been viewed by the OF&G team as the great spectacle they have become used to. Compare this to dire reports from the Royal, at Stoneleigh (for now), and you have to think that there are lessons to be learned from events such as the Royal Welsh!
Richard reports that despite the all pervasive mud the atmosphere was great and the weather made for a “Dunkirk spirit” in the showground.
And there’s praise to be heaped on Organic Centre Wales, and particularly its Carolyn Wacher, for putting on a great organic marquee, of which OF&G was proud to be a part.
Are you taking notes RASE?
It seems too much choice could be bad for us when it comes to the weekly shop.
Apparently those 15 varieties of baked beans can lead to some very negative psychological effects that we could, no doubt do without.
This is according to Professor Barry Schwartz, a psychologist from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania who has penned The Paradox of Choice. He told The Times:
“There is vastly too much choice in the modern world and we are paying an enormous price for it. It makes us feel helpless, mentally paralysed and profoundly dissatisfied.”
If this is true, one would hope that the addition in recent years of a dizzying array of organic lines to this already challenging selection isn’t serving to make the problem worse. Not sure how that would fit into the organic ethos!
Another year and another Royal Show that was noted more for its downsides than any positive promotion of UK agriculture.
It was wellies all round for those who wanted to get about and see a bit of what was on offer - until the plug was finally pulled a day early and everyone sent home.
We hear mumblings today (from those who might otherwise have been at Stoneleigh themselves) that the show still wasn’t what it once was, with big names missing - not to mention the crowds.
Many farming, food and related businesses will no doubt be mulling over whether to invest the time, money and energy in next year’s show, which could lead to a downward spiral which would be sad to see.
All that said, our certification officers were pleased to have the chance to meet with existing and potential licensees who are, all to often, just a voice on the telephone to them normally.
Today’s photo credit goes to Development Officer, Steven Jacobs.
When OF&G Chief Exec, Richard, went to film a piece for the Beeb’s beakfast news he didn’t realise he was about to fulfill a childhood ambition.
But when he was led into the hallowed Blue Peter garden he was transported back to his days as a green-fingered (dunno about that, I made it up) youth. Just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming he set about grabbing some snaps on his phone and here, for the nostalgics among us, are the results:
Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be the lush haven it once was under the legendary Percy Thrower’s hand. Shame.
But there are still some reminders of the halcyon days…
There has been a verrrrry interesting proposition from the boffins on generating massive amounts of green energy from relatively small amounts of seawater, using lasers.
For anyone of a truly scientific bent the concept of nuclear fusion (a long time dream of scientists apparently) might not be news. But to us lesser mortals (okay, me) it’s a fascinating prospect. Too good to be true though? Maybe not in this case…
Today’s BBC Breakfast programme and News 24 seem to be dominated (this morning at least) by the debate on organic food and air miles. Not a simple debate by any means, but one with huge complexities and which raises many questions.
Should organic be about carbon footprints? Should it even be about ethical trade? Or should it simply refer to methods that focus on safeguarding and improving animal welfare and the environment?
We know anyone reading this is going to have a view on that, and probably a strong one, but organic systems are coming increasingly under the microscope and it’s a discussion that’s got to be had…
You can see our own Chief Exec, Richard, contributing to the story on the BBC today by clicking here.
There’s been a lot of chatter in recent days about the imminent arrival of revolutionary retailer Whole Foods Market
This major US brand is to open a three-floor store in London at the beginning of June offering organic and natural foods. It will apparently be the biggest food retailer in town. It’s approach to retailing is said to be somewhat different and the store will be full of seats for shoppers to take the weight off and gaze lovingly at the no-doubt enticing offerings.
OF&G is pleased to see Whole Foods Market turn up on these shores, with its plans for expansion across the country. It’s going to bring great profile to organic produce and the way it is sold. The company talks a good game about its relationship with suppliers too…
This morning our Chief Exec, Richard Jacobs, was interviewed on Radio Four’s Farming Today on the issue (click here to listen again to Wednesday’s programme, although it will only work until next week) and last week we were called by the Independent on Sunday for this piece (although we apparently didn’t make the final cut! Not controversial enough?).
The group owns the Fresh and Wild chain too and it’s progress in the UK is going to be fascinating to watch.
Welfare standards have always been at the heart of organic systems, so it’s gratifying to see other areas of farming tightening up as well.
Of course this is not to say that welfare is only just becoming a concern in non-organic production; that would be unfair. But the announcement of new European rules to set enforceable minimum welfare standards for all poultry is a recognition of what the shopper expects today.
We shouldn’t forget though that organics still sets a very high benchmark and will no doubt continue to do so…
The charity, Garden Organic, of which we’re very fond, has unveiled what it believes is the world’s first biodynamic garden.
It’s part of the charity’s existing ten-acre site in the heart of Warwickshire and has been created by top garden designer Andy Jones.
Should be a fascinating place to spend some time in the summer…
