The NFU Organic on-farm event, hosted by new Forum Chairman John Pawsey, brought together conventional and organic farmers to explore different production systems and to look at best practice within both.
It included discussions in John’s converted barn at Shimpling Park Farm near Bury St Edmunds before John led the group on a two hour walk around the farm.
The business is mixed, with 650 hectares of arable land and 1000 New Zealand Romney sheep, introduced to the arable rotation to improve soil fertility. John also organically farms an additional 1000 hectares for neighbouring farmers, under farm management contracts.
“I’m devising a system that is successful without any inputs. I’m constantly trying to find ways of making it better and I still think we have some work to do on that,” said John, a fourth-generation farmer.
“If any farmer here was offered a fantastic new crop variety, or a new active ingredient, you would probably look at it, yet very few of you will consider converting part of your farm to try organic farming when there is a real financial case for doing so.
“That’s what we did in the 1990s. We put 300 of our 1500 acres into organic production as a diversification exercise and that’s when we decided to make the leap. Our yields are getting better now and, given the challenge of the past four to five years, I think we’re on the way up.”
The presentations and the farm walk generated plenty of debate on issues including increasing productivity while minimising environmental harm, protecting and enhancing soils, controlling costs of production and contrasting public attitudes towards conventional and organic food.
The speakers included NFU Combinable Crops Board Chairman Tom Bradshaw, who was keen to highlight the need for both sectors to work together.
“One of the biggest challenges we have is how we produce sustainable food. I think the answer is a fusion between the best of organic and the best of conventional farming," he said.
“That’s where this balance lies - between making sure we maximise our food production while also minimising our environmental impact.
“I think there’s a future for all of us and it’s really important that, rather than fighting between ourselves, events like this, where we find common ground and look at what’s working, are the way to go.”
Other speakers at the event included Helen Webb of BQP, Andrew Trump of farmer-run producer group Organic Arable and Steven Jacobs of Organic Farmers and Growers.