ORGANIC OR NOT TO BE ORGANIC
Ever since moving to Garth we have managed the land and the stock in accordance with organic principles. For the six years to April 2007 we were certified by the Soil Association. We did not renew our membership and I would like to explain the reasons behind it but first I would like to state that our management of the stock and the land has not changed.
Firstly the fee was somewhat onerous for a farm of this size: annually £400 and rising. Secondly the administration and inspectorate were becoming increasingly pompous and arrogant. Thirdly there were rule changes brought about by Europe but to which the Soil Association were party to. We had been allowed to feed a small amount of non organic feed but with effect from 1 January 2008 all feed had to be produced to organic standards. With my small native breeds of sheep and cattle I had been used to feeding sugar beet nuts and oats. While I could get organic oats there is no organic sugar beet so I would have had to find another feed. This I was able to do at a significantly higher cost financially and I did not like using it as the protein levels were significantly higher. As I had to buy it in bulk it was often passed its best by date before it was used. My prime objection however was on an environmental level. Sugar beet nuts are the by product of producing sugar for people- why plough up land solely for the purpose of feeding animals? Sugar beet nuts are brought up regularly to Orkney via the usual runs: I was having to send in one of the hauliers especially to pick up my feed. I thought that it was also crazy not to put some cushion in place should the weather not play ball and indeed already this year organic fodder is being imported from the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Another factor was the animal welfare implications resulting from the diminished availability of mineral supplements. Previously these had relied to a limited extent on not having to use 100% organic ingredients.
SOIL ASSOCIATION LICENCE NO: SG 8030
We started converting the land and the animals to organic status in May 2001. I wrote “An Organic Diary” for the Natural Medicines Society newsletter which describes the organic conversion process as experienced here. If you are interested have a peep…
Very broadly the impact of the organic status on operating the farm means justifying the actions you take, seeking permission from SA where necessary, and recording them together with the appropriate evidence. While fertilizers are not allowed, soil conditioners may be used so long as a need can be shown, via the analysis of soil samples for example. Routine use of minerals in animal feeds is not allowed unless again a need can be shown via blood samples from animals on the farm or from fodder samples. Routine use of antibiotics, vaccinations and medical controls for internal parasites again is not allowed unless there is specific justification. However if an individual animal has a problem then it must be treated as necessary to sake of its welfare. If more than three allopathic treatments are used then the animal may well loose its organic status. Generally we aim to manage the animals such to avoid health problems but along with that we use a lot of homeopathic remedies.
The winter fodder-haylage in our case- has to be home grown. While currently we are allowed to feed a small percentage of non-organic fed from August 2005 all feed must be organic. During the winter housing period the cattle must have a minimum area per animal dependent on the animals’ size. Thus there are two limitations to the stocking density and therefore the earnings ability of the farm: the amount of food we can grow and the amount of space we have within the buildings for housing the cattle over the winter. I have a policy of “if in doubt, ask” and fair enough the SA, especially Ellie, have been very helpful. The matter of GM, however, is where there is no flexibility- quite right- including what we feed the horses: GM products are simply not allowed.
link to soil association website