What's new - from the food and farming department...
ABP Blackburn abattoir now taking Over Thirty Month organic beef
The ABP abattoir in Blackburn is now licensed to slaughter Over Thirty Month (OTM) cattle. Along with their Soil Association organic processing licence, this means they are now able to take organic OTM cattle.
For further information, contact ABP Blackburn on 01743 422 322.
"Forefront" contamination of manures
The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) has suspended with immediate effect the approval, sale and use of herbicides/weedkillers containing the active ingredient aminopyralid.
This move follows pressure on the government from the Soil Association and the OGA to withdraw the chemical from use after a number of both professional and amateur growers were affected by residues of the broad leaf herbicide Forefront (active ingredient aminopyralid) that contaminated manures. This caused decreased growth or death of plants grown where the manure was applied.
“The Pesticide Safety Directorate’s licensing of these two weedkillers was nothing short of an act of environmental terrorism against sustainable land management,” said Alan Schofield of the OGA
“We are delighted that this product has been suspended. On behalf of the many growers that have lost crops and income as a result of the contamination we hope that the PSD will learn to take a more precautionary approach to licensing in the future,” added Ben Raskin, Soil Association horticultural development manager.
For full details of the revised PSD position, click here
Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) closing
The OCDS is closing on 31 December 2008.
From 1 January 2009 no compensation will be available for animals born pre 1 Aug 1996 and it is likely that the collection and disposal costs for these cattle will rest with the cattle keeper. As demand is expected to be very high in the last three months of the year, the RPA are advising all cattle keepers to ensure they have a slaughter slot before the Scheme ends.
The deadline for booking a slaughter slot is the 30 September 2008.
At the time of booking a slaughter slot you must provide:
- The animal’s ear tag number
- Your CPH number
Bookings cannot be made without this information.
If you have any queries please call OCDS helpline on
0118 968 7333
For further information visit the RPA website,
here
"Forefront" contamination of manures
A number of both professional and amateur growers have been affected by residues of the broad leaf herbicide Forefront (active ingredient aminopyralid) that have contaminated manures. This caused decreased growth or death of plants grown where the manure was applied.
This chemical, produced by DOW, was approved by the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD). This was despite the fact that it can remain active, damage subsequent crops, and can pose a human health threat, even after the crop to which it has been applied has been eaten by a horse or cow, passed through the animal, been stored as farm yard manure, and eventually applied to another crop.
The Soil Association has written to Hilary Benn and has been working with the OGA to put pressure on the government to withdraw the chemical from use. For full details of the PSD position, click here.
The Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS) re-opens in England
The Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS) has re-opened in England.
OCIS is free organic conversion advice service provided by Natural England, to help farmers and land managers in England consider the practical implications of converting their business to organic production.
Natural England has appointed the Organic Research Centre based at Elm Farm, with support from the Scottish Agricultural College to deliver the new service.
The Service aims to provide farmers and land managers with clear, accurate and targeted information and advice on the practicalities of converting their farm business to organic farming.
OCIS also provides advice and information on the organic strand of Environmental Stewardship - Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS)
For more information call the OCIS helpline on 0800 980 0048 or visit the Natural England website.
PhD in using legumes to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of cropping systems
SAC Crop and Soil Systems Research Group have secured funding for a PhD studentship. It will concentrate on the soil microbiology underlying residue decomposition and N release.
For full details of the post and how to apply, please click here.
Changes to Organic Entry Level Scheme
The Organic Entry Level Scheme (OELS) will undergo some key changes this summer.
“As part of the EU approval process for the new Rural Development Programme for England, some key changes have been introduced to OELS,” explained Anna Bassett, Soil Association business manger. “While these changes will not affect those who already have agreements, producers who are thinking about going for OELS should take note.”
“For example, when OELS was launched in 2005 there were options for farmers to gain points by completing soil management plans or manure management plans. As farmers now have to show that they have similar plans under cross compliance, the EU were unable to approve them as points ‘options’ under OELS.”
The OELS has also recently undergone a review as part of the Environmental Stewardship Review of Progress. Two options will now be removed: the brassica fodder crop option (OD5/ED5) and the option for management of high erosion risk cultivated land (OJ1/EJ1).
“In addition, there are some changes to prescriptions for other options,” commented Anna Bassett. “For example, they have extended the end date for the no cutting period for hedgerows – which starts on 1 March – from 31 July to 31 August. These changes will apply to all new agreements starting from 1 September 2008.”
A new updated OELS handbook which incorporates these changes will be available from late July, explained Anna Bassett: “However, in preparation for the launch of the new handbook, Natural England (NE) will not issue new OELS agreements during August 2008 and will process any applications received after 15 June for a 1 September start date, incorporating the new changes.
“It is important to note that this is not a closure of the scheme, and applications can still be submitted during this time. However, the new agreements will not be issued until after 1 September.
“Producers who are close to the deadline of application for conversion payments should make sure that their applications are submitted in time – even if this falls within the period when these will not actually be processed.”
Farmers who have recently entered conversion may wish to wait until the new Handbook is launched before making their applications to ensure that they do not inadvertently pick options that will no longer form part of the scheme.
“Any applications received between June 15 and September 1 2008 that contain options that are no longer included within the new handbook will be returned, where necessary, so that different acceptable options can be chosen to meet the required points target,” added Anna Bassett.
To read a copy of the Soil Association’s Organic Entry Level Scheme briefing paper click here, or to order a paper copy call 0117 914 2400 or email ff@soilassociation.org
Addendum to Organic Farming Scheme Rules - 24 April 2008
- Common land with multiple graziers is not eligible for the Organic Farming Scheme.
- Common Land is eligible if the applicant has sole grazing rights and is able to implement all of the scheme conditions on that land. Evidence will need to be provided to the Welsh Assembly Government with the SAF, such as a copy of the relevant entries in the Common Land Register held by the Local Authorities. Applicants with Sole grazing rights will need to notify the landowner of the common land of their intention to enter the Organic Farming Scheme and in the case of Crown Land they will need consent form the Crown Estate Commissioners.
- To claim the common land, applicants must enter the detail of the common at Section 7 of the 2008 Single Application Form and include a covering letter explaining they wish to include within their OFS agreement.
For more information on the Welsh Organic Farming Scheme see the
Organic Centre Wales fact sheet
here
Monthly Organic Stock Sales
Sedgemoor Auction Centre in Somerset are establishing regular monthly sales for organic stock. Sales will include store cattle, stirks, calves over 12 weeks of age, store lambs, breeding ewes and rams or ewes with lambs at foot, depending on the season.
The sales will take place on the first Monday of each month and start with the sheep at 10.30, followed by the calves at 11.45 and the cattle at 12.30
For more information please contact Robert Venner on robert.venner@gth.net
SOPA Photographic Competition – GO Organic
The 2008 Competition Theme is GO Organic. The judges are looking forward to a high standard of entries that are stimulating, expressive, and demonstrate in any way the diversity of organic food in Scotland.
The competition is open to all.
First prize is an organic hamper and two tickets to the Royal Highland Show. The judging panel will also select nine runners-up which will be displayed in the SOPA Marquee at the Highland Show from 19 to 22 June. These nine runners up will be subject to the public vote to select the best out of those on display.
For more information contact Debs Robinson at SOPA on 0131 335 6619
New Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and organic buying groups project
The Soil Association has just begun an exciting new programme to develop CSAs and organic buying groups. We are part of a partnership project on local food and social enterprise, ‘Making Local Food Work’, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The project will run to March 2012 in England only.
For more information on the project and to find out how you can get involved, click here
Response to vaccines for bovine tuberculosis
Please find the latest response from Phil Stocker, Head of food and farming at the Soil Association, below:
New prize for farmers helping wildlife
The RSPB has joined forces with BBC Countryfile magazine to launch a ground-breaking UK-wide competition to highlight the work that farmers are doing for wildlife. A total of £2,400 is up for grabs for the winner and seven regional champions. The national winner will be chosen next autumn with the top prize of £1,000 and other awards, being presented at a dinner in early 2009.
For more info click here
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