The NFU Organic Forum is hosting a series of free on-farm events, open to both conventional and organic farmers. These events offer a great opportunity to explore different production systems and gain a better understanding of organics; whether you are interested in adopting organic practices, or even taking a more biological approach in a non-organic farming situation.
Each day includes lunch, a tour of the host farm, access to leading industry speakers as well as panel discussions and Q&A sessions.
Previous visits included focusses upon livestock, arable and horticulture. You can read blogs from the visits, here: Uplands, Livestock and Dairy with John Alpe, Livestock and Arable with Jimi Collis, Horticulture with Andrew Burgess.
Upcoming visits:
8th May 2018 (Arable) – Shimpling, Bury St Edmonds, hosted by John Pawsey – ************** REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED **************
John Pawsey is a fourth generation farmer from Suffolk. The organic farm is mixed with 650 hectares of arable land and 500 sheep. John also organically farms an additional 650 hectares for neighbouring farmers under farm management contracts. He is a member of IFOAM UK Group, NFU Combinable Crops Board, and NFU Organic Forum. He is also a former Director of Organic Arable, and a former member of the Soil Association Farmer and Grower Board. Diversification on the farm includes a HLS Scheme, commercial and domestic rentals, and various renewable energy projects including a photovoltaic array and three wood chip boilers. You can read John’s ‘Conservation Agriculturalist’ blog, here.
Agenda for the day, 8th May 2018:
- 11.00 – 11.25: Brunch upon arrival
- 11.25 – 11.30: Introduction to the day and overview of work the NFU does/for organics – Christine McDowell, NFU Food Chain Advisor and NFU Organic lead
- 11.30 – 12.00: Bridging the gap: similarities between conventional and organic farming – Tom Bradshaw, NFU East Anglia Crops Board Chairman and representative on the NFU Combinable Crops Board
- 12.00 – 12.30: Organic combinable crops markets, incl in conversion grain - Andrew Trump, Organic Arable
- 12.30 – 13.00: Market opportunities for local arable farmers - BQP (TBC)
- 13.00 – 13.20: Making the transition: organic certification – Steven Jacobs, Organic Farmers and Growers
- 13.20 – 15.30: Farm tour from host, John Pawsey. Includes: winter beans, spelt, heritage wheats, and other cereals, organic trials, incorporating sheep into arable rotations, niche cropping, and adding value to cereal/pulse production.*please note itinerary may be subject to change
- 15.30 Onwards: Refreshments and depart
************** REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED **************