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The article reports on plans of Welsh government to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops for protesting organic farming in Wales. Topics include views of Rebecca Evans, Wales' deputy minister for farming, on the European Union rules for the same, deadline set by the European Commission for member states to apply, and decision by England not to take up the option.

The article reports on plans of Welsh government to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops for protesting organic farming in Wales. Topics include views of Rebecca Evans, Wales' deputy minister for farming, on the European Union rules for the same, deadline set by the European Commission for member states to apply, and decision by England not to take up the option.

Deals with the possible financial disadvantage facing organic producers in England to farms converting in Wales. Emphasis of organic prices on premium according to Nick Lampkin of the Institute of Rural Studies; Organic premium accounted by conventional milk prices; Reason for the disadvantage of dairy farms entering conversion.

The article discusses the highlights of the Organic Centre Wales workshop held at Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) Pwllpeiran, Aberystwyth in September 2009. Speakers warned Welsh hill farmers about the difficulty of meeting organic lamb marketing requirements. Wyn Williams of Dunbia noted the similarity of the retailer specification for organic and conventional lamb. David Thornton of Rumenco encouraged the use of forage analysis among farmers to make sure that lambs had the feed required to express their genetic potential.

The article highlights the cost benefit of optimizing the use of home-grown feeds for the Bennet family, owner of the Powys farm located at Upper Hall, Meifod in Wales. The family gives importance to effective sward management as the family also sells organic lamb and breeding stock of Lleyn ewes. The family produced an organic vegetable enterprise producing potatoes, carrots, parnips and beetroot for sale to local shops and through a company selling boxed vegetables in order to gain extra income.

The article reports on the financial support from the Wales Rural Development Plan granted to the Welsh organization Organic Centre Wales (OCW) in 2009. The funds are intended to be used in the development of organic businesses related to projects such as energy use and carbon footprint reduction in Wales in the coming three years. It adds that the funding will contribute in the improvement of the environmental performance of the organic sector. According to OCW director Sue Fowler, the funding will be monitored by a steering group.

The article focuses on the Welsh Organic Farming Scheme. In the scheme, farmers would get greater access to the normal arable payment rate using an improved administrative system that could process applications within weeks. The significant improvements to the scheme had been developed in partnership with industry stakeholders. Wales Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones notes that organic farming has a very important role to play in the future of farming in Wales.

The article reports on the reaction of Welsh farming unions to the delay of agri-environment and organic farming payments. According to the Welsh Assembly government, the delay is due to extensive cross checks it is conducting under European Union (EU) legislation, including a mapping exercise to align agri-environment scheme agreements with the Single Payment Scheme. It is reported that the delays are causing serious cash-flow problems to some farmers.

The authors, who run a herd of Aberdeen Angus cross cows in Wales, relate their application for the Organic Farming scheme which according to them is still on hold. According to them, they have been told to await a project officer who is about to visit the land, acknowledge the maps and make an agreement. They have also sold some breeding heifers locally.

The article reports on the decision to halt the applications of Welsh farmers for the Tir Gofal agricultural-environment scheme contracts and organic farming conversion grants that could affect the farmers. Rhian Nowell-Phillips, senior policy adviser of the Farmers Union of Wales, said the union believed that European Union (EU) rules would have allowed Carwyn Jones, rural affairs minister of the Wales Assembly, to approve and pay the grants and the contracts even though the agricultural budget had not been approved.

The article reports that Carwyn Jones, the rural affairs minister of the Welsh Assembly, is optimistic that Wales can meet its target of 10 percent of its farmers as certified organic by 2010 speaking at the 2007 annual conference of the Soil Association. The Welsh Assembly plans to launch incentives to encourage organic farming.

The article focuses on the plan of the Soil Association to ban air-freighted food from its organic certification scheme announced during the society's 2007 annual conference held in Cardiff, Wales. The plan is part of a consultation on a wide range of options to address the environmental impact of air freighting organic food. It cites the important role that can be played by the organic farming movement to address the impact of food production and distribution on climate change.

The article presents an update on a livestock farm in Powys, Wales. The farm owners had their first organic inspection. The new challenge is to live by the book of rules called "Welsh Organic Scheme UK13." It has becoming essential bedtime reading for the farm owners, who are new entrants, as they struggle to think organic at every turn.

Reports on an increase in the number of organic farms in Wales since the launch of the first strategic plan of the Agri-Food Partnership of the Welsh Assembly in 1998. Percentage of Welsh farmland that was certified as organic in 2003; Key element of the strategic plan; Benefits of organic farming to Welsh farming families.

Provides information on a survey conducted in Great Britain in 2003 which revealed that some organic producers will quit organic farming if a proposal to lift an EU feed derogation goes ahead. Impact of the proposal on feed costs; Option of organic producers if the proposal was implemented; Effect on store cattle and sheep producers in Wales, Scotland and the northeast.

Discusses the importance of ensuring the availability of premiums before converting to organic production. Role of clover in grass production; Information on how the Jones family converted to organic production in Wales; Average weight of produced suckler cows.

Deals with the opportunity given to Tim Bevan, a former agricultural college lecturer to develop an organic farm around the perimeter of the National Botanic Garden of Wales via a Millennium Commission-funded project. Terms of the grant received by Bevan to develop the farm; Stock levels of the farm; Range of crops that Bevan wants to use in the farm.