FAQs
This is largely to differences in the retail supply chain and consumer demand with much less locally sourced farm produce being available to the public through our large multiple retailers. Trends are moving towards encouraging organic production with the next generation of millennial consumers showing more interest in how food is produced, provenance and the environment.
Introducing fertility building crops such as legumes is the primary way to maintain soil fertility, most commonly as a grass/clover ley. Locally sourced manures play an important additional role to increase soil fertility.
That depends on the motivation and how crucial the government grants are to the viability of the new organic enterprise.
- If grants are important then 01 January each year is the current start date for Countryside Stewardship;
- Organic conversion for livestock can take place any time of year;
- For crops it’s better to start at the beginning of the new cropping year.
Please visit our Digging Deeper page.
Due to Brexit government grants are changing. In the short term to 2021 Countryside Stewardship offers farmers organic conversion grants and organic land management payments per hectare. Click here for our rural grants page.
Here at OASIS we have a national team of advisers who can help you consider organic production in more detail. Click here to see our regional map.