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An interview with Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, is presented. When asked about the association's strategy due to which four trustees resigned, he replied that the strategy Road to 2020 was controversial because it planned constructive work with non-organic farmers. He presented his views on organic farming. He appreciated the role of the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative in promoting use of organic milk.

The article discusses key market factors that should be considered in organic farming. Topics discussed include a market report published by British charity Soil Association which revealed recovery of British organic food and drink market. It also presents views of Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association.

The article focuses on a study related to comparison of organic and conventional farming conducted researcher Claire Kremen published in the journal "Royal Society B" which revealed that agricultural practice like multicropping and crop rotation reduce the organic-to-conventional crop yield gap.

The article announces that four trustees of the Great Britain-based charity Soil Association including food journalist Joanna Blythman, food writer Lynda Brown, author Pat Thomas, have quit the association as of December 2014 after criticizing the association's approach to promoting organic farming.

The article talks about weed control in organic farming through cultural practices such as crop rotation. Topics discussed include views of farmer Stephen Briggs on planting greater diversity of crop, use of cultivation techniques such as rotational ploughing and minimum tillage for growing winter wheat, spring wheat, and spring barley, and application of herbicide and graminicides.

The article reports on the increase in the amount of land in organic production in Europe over the past 10 years. Topics discussed include the growth in the organic sector across the European Union (EU) by about 500,000 hectares per year, an overview of the report "The Rapid Growth of EU Organic Farming," and details of reform plans included in the common agriculture policy to provide better support to farmers who want to convert to organic.

The article focuses on a warning issued by the Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) group regarding proposals to change the European Union rules on organic farming. Topics discussed include OF&G's claim that the proposed change may force producers to quit, and their fears regarding a new requirement for all organic retailers to become certified. Also mentioned are concerns raised by Austria's agriculture minister, Andre Rupprechter, over the proposals.

The article discusses the Newcastle University's study of 343 peer-reviewed research on the compositional differences between organic and conventional crops. Some of the highlights of the study include organic foods containing 69 percent more antioxidants than conventionally grown crops, antioxidants linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases and lower levels of toxic heavy metals in organic crops.

The article previews the organic stubble turnip seed from Vine House Farm.

The author discusses developments in his 3,000-hectare family farm in Kojonup, Western Australia as of June 20, 2014. Topics discussed include cropping of wheat, barley and oilseed rape, growing of wildflower seed for retail, rearing of merino sheep for wool and meat and the outcome of the trial of Marsh v Baxter involving the contamination of an organic farm by genetically modified (GM) canola.

The article reports that organic farming and sales in Great Britain grew by 2.8 percent in 2013 due to Great Britain's tentative economic recovery, wherein the increase is considered as the first improvement in the organic market since 2009. It discusses the role of strong brands, such as Yeo Valley, Green and Black's and Rachel's Organic, in driving the growth in the organic market. Abacus Organic principal consultant Stephen Briggs commented on sales performance of organic products.

The article discusses the results of the University of Oxford's study which concluded that organic farms yielded greater biodiversity benefits than intensively-farmed land. Topics discussed include the referencing of the study from a research published in the "Journal of Applied Ecology," non-organic farms having about 50 percent fewer species of pollinators than organic farms and the role of organic methods in controlling the continued loss of diversity in industrialised countries.

This section offers agriculture-related news briefs as of February 7, 2014. Results of an Oxford university study published in the "Journal of Applied Ecology" showed the role of organic farms in boosting biodiversity. Farmer Charlie Hughes received the Sussex Farmer of the Year award and proposed to his girlfriend Sarah Butler. Beef farmers are urging abattoirs to be more transparent over their charging policies.

The article discusses the results of a study which showed that endangered farmland birds have better survival rate during winter on conventional farms with specially designed wildlife habitats than on organic farms without. The study indicated that efficiency of the Conservation Grade approach designed to grow crops while requiring farmers to establish and manage specific habitats for wildlife. Researcher Dominic Harrison explains the benefits of farm-scale management.

The article discusses the developments in the agriculture industry in Great Britain. It features Richard Price, who manages the Lowther Park Farms in Cumbria, England. It claims that one of the major changes introduced by Price at the farm is the switch of the estate's in-hand farming business back to traditional production from organic farming.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of being an organic farmer in Great Britain.

In the article, the author discusses the developments in the farming sector, particularly in South Africa. The author focuses on the feasibility of organic farming technique, in which the author's personal experiences are cited. The author also criticizes the adverse effects of concentrated artificial chemicals parading as fertilizers on mother earth.

The article reports that farmers are looking for organic farming techniques to reduce their expenditure. Helen Browning, chief executive officer (CEO) at the Soil Association stated during a breakfast seminar that farmers are realizing that farming can be improved without actually going organic. It mentions that the association has introduced a special Future Farming program in which organic and non-organic farmers can develop new approaches.

The article discusses a report from the Soil Association which emphasized the need to stop the increasing number of producers quitting the organic market to prevent future organic supply shortages in Great Britain. It reveals that the number of organic producers in the country has declined by 5 percent to 6,929 in 2012. The narrowing gap between conventional and organic farm-gate prices is considered.

The article focuses on the statement of Jack Bobo, senior adviser on biotech to former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, that a food crisis would be inevitable if the European Union (EU) moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops will continue. He added that governments must make decision based on science and not politics like what was done by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He believes that organic agriculture was unsustainable.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article of Tim Benton's comments on the unsustainability of organic farming in the January 25, 2013 issue.

The article reports on the claim by British scientist Tim Benton that advancing organic production among European farmers could cause more harm to the global environment than traditional farming systems. He claims that the lower yields in organic systems result in more lands to be farmed due to food shortfall. Benton's opinion is supported by Soil Association innovation director Tom MacMillan.

The article reports on the commitment made by Clinton Devon Farms to organic farming despite tough economy in Great Britain. Farm manager George Perrott mentioned the main factors that influenced the company to renew its Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme membership until 2017 include the milk price and high level of yield of cows. The benefits of the scheme and the process renewal are described.

The article offers information on the benefits of high-protein lupins as organic alternative feeds to soya in beef cattle. According to farmer Rob Priest, apart from improved cattle performance, lupin has much higher fibre content than grass silage, allowing microbes in the rumen to efficiently digest the feed. More than its nutritional quality, the crop appeals to farmers in Great Britain who struggle growing other crops.

The article offers information on the Langleys Farm in East Sussex, England owned by Phil and Steve Hook. The 77 hectares (ha) organic farm has 65 Holstein Friesians averaging 4,000 litres a cow a year. The farm produces on site organic raw milk, cream, butter and ghee. It also conducts regular bacteria testing throughout the supply chain to ensure the milk is fit for consumption.

An interview with Phil Stocker, chief executive of National Sheep Association (NSA) in Great Britain, is presented. He states that he lives in Gloucestershire, England with his wife. He explains that his involvement in agriculture started when he was young as he had a farming family in Wales, where he spent a lot of time. He also explains how his background in organic farming fit with his role at the NSA.

In the article, the author discusses the issues involving genetically modified (GM) crops in Great Britain. He claims that the supporters of organic farming claim that GMs are bad, while the progressives say that GMs are the remedy for the problems of the humanity. He criticizes the move by the British government to spend a major portion of its research and development (R&D) budget on GM crops, which are detested by consumers.

The article discusses the developments in the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the European Union (EU). It cites the move by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to cooperate with other countries like Germany, Sweden and Denmark on a proposal to provide member states with greater authority in the implementation of measures under the reformed CAP. The opinion of the National Farmers Union's (NFU) Maeve Whyte on the plan is also cited.

The author comments on Soil Association chief executive officer (CEO) Helen Browning's call for more knowledge transfer between organic and conventional farming. He claims that he would consider organic farming if it could provide him tips on how to wean away from ammonium nitrate. He argues against the notion that because he feeds his children on the produce from non-organic farms, then he is trying to poison them.

The article focuses on the call from Oxfam director of policy and campaigns Phil Bloomer on the organic movement to be more open to genetically modified (GM) technology to increase future productivity.

The article focuses on a call from Oxfam director Phil Bloomer on the organic sector during the Soil Association's annual conference in London to be more open to genetically modified (GM) technology in order to increase future productivity.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of organic farming in Great Britain.

The article comments on the importance of organic farming. The author explains her reasons for embracing organic farming are to help prevent the diminishing of wildlife on the farm and find a way to keep the right of pigs and poultry for a good, natural life. She also stressed that organic farming is a humane and gentle way of producing healthy food. The experience of the author in organic farming is also discussed.

The article presents an outlook for the organic farming industry in Great Britain. According to Organic Research Centre director Nic Lampkin, the latest proposals for the reform of the European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) had enhanced the status of organic farming. However, Lampkin pointed that the environmental benefits of organic farming which are recognized by EU still need to be transferred to Great Britain.

The article reports on the suggestion by the International Federation of Organic Movements that the British government should encourage consumers to change their diets rather than appeal to farmers to increase their food production. In his speech before the Organic Research Centre annual conference in Birmingham, England on January 19, 2011, the movement's Christopher Stopes said that the issues of consumption should be resolved.

The article discusses the contributions of television advertisements to the state of dairy farming in Great Britain in 2011. It says that such advertisements have enhanced the performance of dairy firm Yeo Valley which is known for producing organic crops. According to the author, the products of the company started to become popular when it launched its first prime-time advertisement in the autumn of 2010.

The author talks about the prospect of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reducing bureaucratic practice in British farming. He considers the plan as a good news to the livestock sector but as an arable farmer, he believes that things will not change much. He says that he is mystified by the bit about suggesting organic farmers to be exempted from recording. He highlights his skepticism on the recommendations.

The article features Dorset, England-based Andrew Blenkiron, who manages a farm business near Witchampton in Dorset, England. He plants combinable crops, including organic crops, as well as runs outdoor pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, horses and stewardship at his over 2,000-hectare (ha) farm. He claims that the winter wheat crops that they planted in January 2011 are already poking through as of February 2011.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of dealing with regular droughts on the farm and trying out organics versus conventional farming.

The article presents statements given by National Farmers Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall at the Soil Association conference in Manchester, England on February 9, 2011, wherein he cautions organic farmers to avoid making claims about the environmental benefits of organic culture in order to foster demand for their produce.

The article deals with the challenges facing the organic farming industry in Great Britain because of the recession.

This article reports on the launch of a campaign by the organic farming industry to reverse the decrease in British sales in 2011.

The author describes activities at the organic farm she and her husband own on the Otterburn Firing Range in Northumberland, England, where they breed ewes and suckler cows. Her husband visit tup-breeders to view potential purchases in their natural habitat in preparation for the Blackface sheep tup sale season. The British Army training area commander will be the author's farm as part of his annual goodwill tour of range farms in October 2010. She also describes her trip to London, England to attend the Farmers Weekly Awards.

The article describes how George Moss and his wife Sharon manages a conversion organic dairy farm in Tokoroa, New Zealand.

The author comments on organic elitism in Great Britain. He states his decision to convert part of his farm to organic status was aimed at putting a little social and moral distance between himself and conventional farmers. He states that according to Soil Association director Patrick Holden, the exclusive image of the organic movement might be related to the improved social backgrounds of some key members. He says based on the findings of the Food Standards Agency, the nutrition content of organic food does not differ from conventionally produced food.

The article stresses the need for conventional farmers in Great Britain to learn from the organic sector to make it possible for the industry to meet targets to produce more while reducing emissions, according to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Secretary Hilary Benn during the Soil Association conference in Birmingham, England on February 3, 2010.

The article details a research, which was presented at Elm Farm's Organic Producer Conference held in January 2010 in Shropshire, England, about the use of buckwheat to unlock phosphorus from soil particles, thus helping growers to achieve good yields from an organic cereal crop.

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 reports on the plan of the British trade association Organic Trade Board to have the organic sector grow by one billion (bn) pounds come 2015. It notes that the association intends to raise the value of the market to 3.1 bn pounds from 2.1 bn along with the support from large organic firms, certifiers and retailers. Under its three-pronged approach, the association will work on establishing better engagement with consumers regarding the advantages of going organic and on reviving the confidence of retailers in the market.

The author reflects on the epidemic of obesity and the concept of biodynamic agriculture in Great Britain. He attributes the obesity epidemic to lifestyle, not enough exercise and insufficient energy. He asserts that agricultural research should follow up on and develop biodynamic ideas to control the use of chemicals. He stresses the importance of exploring all directions toward improved national health and how biodynamic agriculture can contribute to it.