News - Horticulture (61 articles)
This section combines information for organic horticulturists, including research results, news, policy, marketing and standards updates. Further information can be obtained from external sites. For information on growing organic and weed management, visit HDRA’s websites. The Organic Growers’ Alliance is a new organisation aimed at supporting organic growers through events and publications. For information on pests and disease, visit Fight Against Blight or the HDC pest bulletin. Information on seeds can be found at COSI, Organic-X-Seeds and NIAB, which also has information on varieties. The Organic Soil Fertility Project and The Soil Management Initiative have information on soil fertility whilst a round up of price information and technical guides are provided by The Soil Association.
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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Food quality: which production practices make a difference?
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Hardy Vogtmann highlighted the need to integrate decision making regarding food quality with biodiversity issues. Gillian Butler reported that fresh forage intake improves milk quality in respect to fatty acids and antioxidants. Johannes Kahl reviewed approaches of food quality assessment and proposed that a more holistic approach be used. The discussion compared food quality assessment with a reductionist vs. a holistic approach and stressed the importance of consumer education. An example was given of how striving for food quality can clash with economic needs at the farm level.
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Legume LINK managing legume mixtures – Pros and cons
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Legume LINK is a major new research project which started in 2009 to investigate the potential of a wide range of legumes as fertility building crops in arable systems. A selection of legumes was combined into species mixtures and these are currently being trialled at various sites across the UK in a participatory farm-based approach. Dr. Thomas Döring (Organic Research Centre) described ‘first impressions' from preliminary data collected in year one. There was much interested debate in the open discussion from growers and researchers alike, including the optimisation of legume mixes to different regions of the country and their role in weed suppression.
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Innovative models for producer co-operation
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The session was affected by the weather in that one of the speakers did not make it through the snow. Fortunately Andrew Trump was able to cover some of the areas in addition to his own presentation. He spoke about the recent initiative between the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative (OMSCo) and Organic Arable (formerly Organic Arable Market Group). The idea for a combined feed project first arose in 2004 but did not happen for a number of reasons. The lessons from that early experience enabled a successful re-launch in 2009 where a key factor is the buying relationship between Organic Arable and the individual OMSCo member, not OMSCo itself. This kind of initiative relies on personalities, commitment and simplicity.
The second discussion centred around the activities of Thames Organic Growers, an organic growers' group based primarily in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the London area. Mark Stay was at pains to emphasise that TOG is not a marketing group - every member markets their own produce. The strengths of TOG were in the information exchange that takes place at the monthly meetings and the ability to bulk purchase where appropriate. There is also some machinery and transport sharing. A key to its present success is a part-time secretary. The discussion that followed focused on marketing co-operation and competition.
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Growers update and new initiatives
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
The session started with Alan Schofield, chair of the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) giving a short review of the season. The new highly interactive OGA website was launched – www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk Organic seed production and supply is a major issue facing the sector. The New EU Organic Directive has spawned the European Consortium for Organic Plant Breeding (ECO-PB) to develop international policy on organic seed regulation. There is a strong need to balance the needs of producers and seed companies. Various methods to achieve this exist on a national level but they require clear communication between the sector and national government and other member states. The aim of this session was to discuss these possibilities.
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New crops, new varieties, new directions
Added: 1st April 2010
Discussion & presentations from the ORC Producer Conference
Taken from the session 'New crops, new varieties, new dircetions', John Samules of Incredible Plants discusses Novel Solanaceae
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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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It’s not rocket science
Added: 26th August 2009
Groundsel found in packaged rocket in Germany
Following the discovery of a single plant of groundsel in a 125 g lot of packaged rocket, the German rocket market has completely broken down. Amidst fears of food poisoning several big supermarket chains cancelled their rocket orders, according to the online version of the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel'.
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Soil-less in Scandinavia undermines EU Organic credibility
Added: 18th June 2009
Regulation rules out soil-less cropping but no EU action yet
Reports of soil-less production in organic glasshouses in Scandinavia and the EU’s seemingly tolerant position have raised a number of questions. The new EU Regulation on organic production (834/2007) shows a number of clear references to the fact that plants must be raised in soil and that soil properties and biodiversity should be preserved and enhanced. Definitions of soil all state in more or less detail that it is part of or attached to the surface of the Earth. Once these facts are reviewed the only logical conclusion is that soil-less cannot and should not be allowed in organic systems. This is also important in the maintenance of consumer confidence and harmonised perceptions across the EU. The failure if member states and the EU Commission to stop this practice may damage the credibility of the regulatory process.
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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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What's the dope on the soap?
Added: 8th June 2009
Is the status of a key organic input resolved or not?
Earlier this year, fatty acid potassium salt, better known as soft soap or by its trade name of Savona, was listed by the European Crop Protection Association as having failed the safety evaluation of the EU Pesticides Review. This caused consternation amongst organic growers. But it now appears that a previous Commission Directive had included it on the approved list of control inputs permitting its use until 2018.
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Protected cropping moves up the organic agenda
Added: 18th May 2009
Protected cropping rules shouldn't allow non soil production
Protected cropping is likely to move onto the agenda of the Standing Committee of Organic Farming in its quest to fill in the gaps of the new EU Regulations.
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Eye on the market: Horticulture
Added: 7th May 2009
Latest prices from the Soil Association - April 2009
Prices serve as a guide only - actual prices will depend on volume, availability, quality and supply.
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Natural England and National Trust launch major campaign
Added: 24th April 2009
Support for vanishing orchards
A report warns that since the 1950s, nearly two-thirds of orchards have disappeared - the victims of developers, industrial farming and changing land use.
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Survey of traditional vegetable variety use
Added: 22nd April 2009
Growers required to complete survey.
Two UK universities are undertaking a survey of traditional crop varieties (landraces) in England and Wales and need growers to participate.
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Survey of traditional vegetable variety use
Added: 30th March 2009
Survey seeks growers to complete survey
Growers are sought to complete a survey of traditional crop varieties (landraces) in England and Wales.
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Growers Needed to Help Stop Plants Going to Seed
Added: 24th February 2009
Veg growers needed to participate in study.
Two UK universities are looking for growers to assist in project to safeguard traditional and unusual vegetable varieties.
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Local not always better for the environment
Added: 6th February 2009
Shopping locally may not be as good for the environment
New research by the University of Exeter claims that shopping locally might not be better than having it delivered.
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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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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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Light touch regime for small growers
Added: 6th January 2009
Soil Association proposes “Open Gate” scheme
A new self-assessment scheme for very small growers over the next twelve months is proposed by the Soil Association.
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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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Good riddance to pesticides, says OGA
Added: 27th October 2008
Organic Growers Alliance welcomes EU vote on pesticide cuts
The OGA supports EU Pesticide Vote on further restrictions of pesticide usage affecting fruit and vegetable crops.
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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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Cracking down on seed sourcing
Added: 10th September 2008
Search for top 5 vegetable candidates for organic seed
ECO-PB hope to identify a top five list of vegetable crops.
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Row over vegetable box scheme booklet
Added: 10th September 2008
Growers' anger at Soil Association's booklet
There is anger from growers over "best" box schemes booklet.
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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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Soil Association's Standards Board now complete
Added: 6th August 2008
Rob Haward, of Riverford Organic Vegetables joins the board
Riverford's operations director joins the standards board as a grower representative.
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Hormone herbicide harm
Added: 17th July 2008
Herbicide contamination threatens organic growers.
The Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) calls for immediate ban on use of hormone herbicide.
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Leatherjacket management
Added: 18th June 2008
University of Plymouth publishes info on leatherjackets
A new leaflet from the University of Plymouth on predicting and managing leatherjacket problems in organic crops.
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Organic fruit and vegetable production guide
Added: 18th June 2008
Organic Centre Wales has produced a new technical guide
A guide for farmers on organic fruit and vegetable production.
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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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Organic strawberries stop cancer cells
Added: 30th May 2008
Organically grown strawberries inhibit cancer cell division
New research finds that organically grown strawberries inhibit cancer cell division more effectively than conventionally grown ones.
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Price not biggest barrier to buying organic
Added: 15th May 2008
A survey into shoppers’ perceptions of organic fruit and veg
Survey finds that only 16% of shoppers are driven by cost when buying organic.
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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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Front garden farmers of the cities
Added: 18th April 2008
Urban food growing network encourages locally grown food
Food up Front encourages more locally produced food to be grown in cities.
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Management and supply of nitrogen
Added: 14th April 2008
PACARes research review
The Review summarises key aspects of nitrogen accumulation, management and utilisation in organic farming systems.
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Use of compost in organic farming
Added: 14th April 2008
PACARes research review
The Review explores the variations in compost and its use in improving plant health and quality.
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Challenges of stockless organic systems
Added: 11th April 2008
PACARes research review
The Review addresses the issues and main problems faced by producers of stockless organic arable and horticultural systems.
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Organic Growers Alliance launches new website
Added: 27th March 2008
OGA launched new website at its very first AGM
The new website aims to help the organisation become the voice of organic horticulture.
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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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New State of Science Review is released
Added: 18th March 2008
The Organic Centre publishes its State of Science Review
The review looks at pesticide residues and risk in conventional and organic food.
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No till organic?
Added: 17th March 2008
Can organic, and no-till crop production be united ?
The latest newsletter from the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada questions whether organic and no-till crop production can be united.
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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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Svalbard’s global seed vault opens
Added: 26th February 2008
£4.7 million Arctic ‘doomsday’ vault opened
The ‘doomsday’ vault is opened to protect seed samples representing the world’s agricultural biodiversity.
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Organic conversion does not increase weeds
Added: 22nd February 2008
A new study finds no significant increase in weed diversity
Findings show that there is no significant increase in weed diversity and volume following organic conversion.
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Biopesticides: alternative to chemical pesticides?
Added: 8th February 2008
New research on ways to apply biocontrol agents to seeds
The research will focus on ways to prevent effects of disease or pests on crop production by applying biocontrol agents.
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Cauliflower demise - end of British cauliflower?
Added: 8th February 2008
Have dismal summer and big retailers ended Brit cauliflower?
Has last year’s dismal summer and the buying power of big retail chains rubbed out the last of the UK’s home-grown cauliflowers?
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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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Lettuce quality & agronomic management practices
Added: 15th January 2008
New research project on comparable lettuce yields
The research demonstrates that organic methods can produce comparable lettuce yields, with low risks of enteric bacteria contamination.
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Welsh Organic Horticulture Sector Market Review
Added: 25th July 2007
Organic Centre Wales’ review just released
A market review on the horticultural market in Wales.
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Proportion of Organic Land increasing in EU
Added: 13th June 2007
Figures released demonstrating growth in organic land
Eurostat has released figures on land in organic production in the EU.
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The UK market for organic vegetables
Added: 7th March 2007
Report provides insight into the UK organic market
HDRA report on supply and demand for individual UK vegetable crops as well as trends within the market.
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