News - Dairy (45 articles)
This section combines information for the dairy farmer, including research results, news, policy, marketing and standards updates. Further information can be obtained from external sites. For dairy marketing, contact OMSCo, the largest supplier of organic milk in the UK. They also have information about conversion, including the diary of a converter and additional resources for OMSCo farmers. The nutritional benefits of organic milk are summarised by the Soil Association, whilst an older report prepared for the Milk Development Council by Organic Centre Wales summarises market prospects for organic milk.
ORC OPEN DAYS
Added: 25th June 2010
Celebrating 30 years of the Organic Research Centre
The Organic Research Centre is holding two open days on the 16th & 17th of July as part of our 30th Anniversary programme.
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Communicating the organic message
Added: 19th May 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer conference
OF&G initiatives – a certifier’s perspective
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Animal health and welfare planning for livestock producers
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The session was organised by the UK Partners of ANIPLAN (CORE Organic project 1903, funded in the UK be Defra) Stephen Roderick (Duchy College) and Pip Nicholas (IBERS). ANIPLAN has developed principles of animal health planning that hat should be an ongoing process of dialogue between the farmer and external experts. Pictures illustrated how natural dairy cow behaviour can be hindered by the structure of equipment. By reducing productivity animal health problems also have environmental implications. The importance of the human-animal relationship was highlighted. The discussion highlighted the potential contribution of farmer groups to improve health, such as the Danish "Stable School" approach currently piloted in on organic farms in Devon.
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Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock A lively discussion followed three informative and engaging presentations to a packed audience. Jo Smith (The Organic Research Centre) presented an overview of previous research in this area and Mike Townsend (The Woodland Trust) explained the many and wide-ranging benefits that agroforestry offers. These two presentations were put into context by Stephen Briggs (Abacus Organic and Bluebell Farm), who has recently converted 125 acres of his Cambridgeshire farm into an agroforestry system incorporating 4500 apple trees with combinable crops. This raised questions of the practicalities of tree and fruit management, combinable cropping and policy.
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Sustainable Food Security
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The discussion on “Sustainable Food Security” was lead by presentations by Niels Halberg who presented a paper titled “Is Organic Farming an unjustified luxury in a world with too many hungry people?” and Lawrence Woodward with a paper titled “Organic Farming and Food Security – A UK Perspective”. Halberg spoke of how an increasing world population and climate change will be a challenge to food security but there is a need for a new production paradigm to integrate natural resource management with food and nutritional security. He suggested that organic (both certified and non-certified) can significantly contribute to this new approach. Woodward raised the questions of why UK governments and policy makers do not see organic farming as being part of the solution and conclude that it was probably due to the focus on yields rather than total productivity. He concluded that organic farming does have a role to play in food security but that the real challenge is shifting the policy debate from more food at any cost. We need to embrace food sovereignty and this will allow us to call for and make fundamental change.
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ORC Producer Conference 2010 proceedings now available online
Added: 1st April 2010
Session summaries & presentations from this years conference
We are pleased to be able to offer content from the 2010 Organic Research Centre's Producer Conference online.
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2010 ORGANIC PRODUCERS’ CONFERENCE
Added: 24th September 2009
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS AND WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
7th and 8th January 2010 Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB
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Resilient OMSCo provides a lifeline for organic Dairy Farmers of Britain
Added: 12th June 2009
Steady sales enable Organic dairy co-op take on DFB farmers
The Organic Milk Suppliers Co-op is taking on the organic farmer members of the collapsed Dairy Farmers of Britain. The agreement which had been planned for later this year was brought forward and will allow OMSCo to achieve efficiencies on haulage and administration. Organic milk sales are holding up despite media stories of a collapse but rising feed costs are a concern. Meanwhile, OMSCo Chief Executive Hugh Bowles has told farmer members of Organic Arable that he is looking for a fair price deal to enable him to source UK arable products. The gulf between the price expectations of dairy and arable farmers remains significant but co-operation between these two groups, which both have their origins in ORC’s advisory department, is a possibility.
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€18 Million EU research confirms organic claims
Added: 8th June 2009
QLIF shows benefits but more work needed
The five-year, €18 million research programme, part-funded by the EU, on the quality of organic and low input foods has come to a close with a conference in Turkey in April 2009 and the publication of summaries of the main results. A huge number of projects completed over 5 years have confirmed much of what organic supporters have been saying about organic food and farming systems but has not been able to supply the definitive answer on health claims that many had hoped for. Some new insights have been gained however and interesting perspectives on how the organic system might be further developed have emerged.
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How can organic grass be greener?
Added: 28th May 2009
Industry debates the future for organic grass seed.
It hasn’t hit the headlines much recently but the issues about the possibility of producing organic grass seed are still rolling on with differing views strongly held. Defra has reiterated that the Regulation requiring 100% organic seed will not be dropped and whilst current derogations allow 35% conventional seed in a grass mixture, progress must continue to be made towards full compliance. There are different views about the desirability and feasibility of this.
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Kingshay: Jersey & Guernsey and Organic Production
Added: 7th May 2009
Latest market & yield information from DairyCo - April 2009
The Kingshay Channel Island and Organic Herd Production data has been published, 23rd April 2009 on the Farm Data and Prices section of DairyCo. It includes both Organic monthly and Organic annual rolling averages.
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Rachel's drops 'organic' from name
Added: 21st April 2009
Dairy company Rachel's to drop the term 'organic'
Recession to blame for long-established organic farm changing its marketing policy.
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OMSCo launches demonstration farms
Added: 19th February 2009
New network to improve knowledge sharing
OMSCo's new network of farms to act as role models.
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The Organic Research Centre Producer Conference
Added: 22nd January 2009
Proceedings, slides and notes from the January conference
Conference Proceedings
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New Organic Health and Welfare Site
Added: 21st January 2009
A new version of the Compendium of Animal Health and Welfare
Latest update available now.
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Differences in milk composition
Added: 19th January 2009
Research shows differences between organic & conv milk
A recent study shows there are differences in composition in relation to fatty acid and fat soluble antioxidant concentrations.
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Organic Movement or Market?
Added: 16th January 2009
Organic farmers and producers in hot debate
Lively discussions at the recent Organic Research Centre Producer Conference.
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Facing the future
Added: 5th November 2008
Report from the Welsh Organic Producer’s conference
Thursday 23 October 2008, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells
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Welsh organic gathering
Added: 3rd October 2008
Welsh Organic Prod Conference Oct 2008
This year's Organic Centre Wales conference is entitled 'Preparing for a challenging future'
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Zero greenhouse gas farming
Added: 3rd October 2008
New alliance works to trim emissions.
Route to zero greenhouse gas emissions being pursued.
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Animal Health Plans
Added: 5th September 2008
A series of case studies on animal health plans
Information on animal health plans from Organic Centre Wales.
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Ups and downs of UK organic market
Added: 1st September 2008
Retail analysts say UK organic market down by 20 per cent
Soil Association disagrees.
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DairyCo issues latest dairy statistics pocketbook
Added: 4th July 2008
Dairy statistics & guide provides revised information, 2008
As well as statistics for the UK, the guide also highlights quantitative data for the EU and the world.
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OMSCo market report released
Added: 2nd July 2008
The Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative releases its report
OMSCo's report on the current state of the market, its future development and challenges.
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Taking the pulse of organic animal health
Added: 10th June 2008
What is the organic way forward on TB in cattle?
Is vaccination an acceptable organic tool? What is positive health?
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Making more use of research
Added: 2nd June 2008
Research information more accessible for farmers & growers
Mark Measures, Director of the Institute of Organic Training and Advice summarises the improved access to research information for farmers and advisers.
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New study finds reason for organic milk benefits
Added: 27th May 2008
Cows grazing on organic farms produce better quality milk
Research from Newcastle University demonstrates that grazing cows on organic farms produce better quality milk.
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OMSCo announces 2008 ‘Farmer of the Year’
Added: 21st May 2008
OMSCo awards Tim Downes 'farmer of the year'
Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo) recognises Shrewsbury farmer for achieving best practice in organic dairy farming.
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Milk Roadmap sets environmental targets
Added: 8th May 2008
Defra and industry roadmap to reduce environmental impact
Defra and the UK dairy industry have published a Milk Roadmap that aims to reduce the environmental impacts of producing and consuming liquid milk.
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The costs of organic production
Added: 7th May 2008
Welsh organic farmers get similar returns to conventionals
Organic farmers in Wales are achieving similar returns for their milk, lamb and beef despite lower yields than conventional farmers.
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Welsh organic sector growth
Added: 2nd May 2008
Growth of organically managed land in Wales set to continue
Results from a producer survey by Organic Centre Wales.
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OCIS: free advice for organic conversion
Added: 2nd May 2008
Service HELPLINE number 0800 980 0048
Free advice for farmers and growers thinking of converting to organic production.
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Organic dairy cow nutrition
Added: 14th April 2008
Latest thinking on dairy cow nutrition.
The PACARes research review pulls together latest results on dairy cow nutrition, addressing issues on sustainability vs optimum production.
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Free organic conversion advice launched
Added: 26th March 2008
Defra launches free information and advice service
The new Defra service will provide free information and advice for English farmers considering organic conversion.
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OMSCo launches search for Farmer of the Year 2008
Added: 19th March 2008
OMSCo is now seeking nominations for 2008
Following the success of last year’s competition, OMSCo is now seeking nominations for 2008.
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Machinery rings
Added: 10th March 2008
Newsletter outlines the benefits of machinery rings
The latest edition of the Northern Organic Newsletter highlights the work of the Machinery ring Association of England and Wales.
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First Milk report on the real price of milk
Added: 5th March 2008
Report, ‘The real price of milk" urges fair trade for farms
The Co-operative First Milk has published its new report ‘The Real Price of Milk’ which urges fair trade for British dairy farmers.
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Doing it right, Doing it better - proceedings
Added: 8th February 2008
The Organic Research Centre's 2nd Producer Conference
Proceedings from the conference, hosted in collaboration with Organic Inform, are now available online.
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Shortages jeopardise organic sector
Added: 25th January 2008
Report from Mintel on demand for organic food
Marketing analysts Mintel suggests that the increased popularity of organic food be its downfall.
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Organic Inform Newsletter
Added: 25th January 2008
Monthly Organic Inform newsletter with latest news & events
Each month, Organic Inform puts together a newsletter with the latest news and events. Register to ensure you receive your copy.
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Feed costs squeezing the EU organic dairy market
Added: 25th January 2008
EU organic milk production could be constrained by feed cost
The Organic Milk suppliers Co-operative says that rising feed costs are causing the decline of organic milk production.
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Meat sector to develop male dairy calf market
Added: 25th January 2008
Outlets for male dairy calves encouraged
The development of economically viable outlets for the domestic rearing and finishing of male dairy calves is to be encouraged by market stakeholders.
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PR campaign for Organic Milk
Added: 16th January 2008
The Federation of Organic Milk Groups awarded £60,000
The Milk Development Council has awarded this sum to the Federation to increase awareness of organic milk.
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QLIF: evaluation of udder health measures
Added: 15th January 2008
Research from QLIF investigates Swiss mastitis treatment
New research from QLIF investigates the alternatives for the treatment and prevention of mastitis on Swiss organic dairy farms.
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Yeo Valley starts the New Year with re-launch
Added: 2nd January 2008
Leading UK organic brand has brand re-design
To help sustain its 20% year on year growth rate, leading UK organic brand is starting 2008 with a complete brand re-design.
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