Booking is now open for the 2017 National Organic Combinable Crops (NOCC)
conference, the largest and longest-running organic on-farm event in the UK.
Now in its tenth year, this one-day event will be held this year in Andover, Hampshire, will offer organic and nonorganic farmers the chance to learn about the latest innovations in the sector, and discover how they might take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.
Hosted by innovative organic arable farmers James Liddell and sons Tom and Hugh on Thursday 6 July, visitors will have the chance to learn about the farm and its operations during an extensive farm walk; including an in-depth look at the business' agroforestry, soils and machinery. Visitors will also get the chance to hear about the farm’s vineyard, which makes award-winning English sparkling wine.
As well as examining extensive crop trials - including varieties ranging from some of the oldest wheats to the latest commercial varieties in development - visitors will hear from a range of experts who will discuss issues including soil sampling, weed management and companion cropping.
Other topics will include green manures, sowing rates and machinery.
Following a renowned conference lunch cooked from some of the country’s finest organic produce, delegates will then get to hear from speakers from across the sector, including growers, academics and industry leaders.
Attendees will also have the chance to engage with experts during a special panel discussion, providing the chance to hear from - and discuss with - a range of experts about some of the key developments in the arable sector.
Hosted by BBC Farming Today and Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith, sessions will include a discussion on seed breeding and selection, with input from Dr Edward Dickin of Harper Adams, Stephen Briggs of Whitehall Farm and Roger Baird of grain traders WN Lindsay.
Professor Martin Wolfe from Wakelyns Agroforestry will also be there to discuss his innovation ORC Wakelyns Population, an organic wheat which aims to be sustainable, profitable and resilient in the face of increasing climatic changes.
A second panel session will look at innovation in agriculture, with experts including John Cherry of Weston Farms and Groundswell, Nuffield Scholar Andrew Howard and John Pawsey, organic arable farmer and member of the NFU Crops Board leading the discussions. Progressive organic arable farmer Sophie Alexander of Hemsworth Farm in Bournemouth will also be in attendance, talking about her compost tea trials, as well as her membership of the Organic Arable collective – a farmer-controlled business specialising in marketing organic grains and pulses.
Farmers can also hear about major research projects from event partners The Organic Research Centre.
Projects to be featured at this year's event include:
• Agforward
• SUSTAINfarm
• AFINET
• Agricology
• CERERE
• Liveseed
• Diversifood
• GREATsoils
• OK-Net Arable
Steven Jacobs, OF&G Business Development Manager, says: “As organic food sales in the UK continue to grow, this year’s NOCC event aims to showcase the wealth of opportunities available in the organic market.
“With practical, on-farm sessions coupled with in-depth advice and discussion from experts, NOCC is always hugely popular with visitors from across the organic and non-organic sectors.
“And with the variety of crops and topics to be discussed and the panellists lined up for this year we’ve no doubt tickets for this year’s event will be more in-demand than ever, so we recommend people register now to avoid any disappointment.”
Delegate tickets for the event cost £35, with discounts for additional family members.
You can download the booking form here: OF&G delegate form NOCC 2017 or http://ofgorganic.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/04/OFG-delegate-form-NOCC-2017.pdf
For trade enquiries please contact Steven on email : YXJhYmxlQG9mZ29yZ2FuaWMub3JnLnVr