Three organic systems at ADAS Terrington.

This study will aim to continue research into organic systems at ADAS Terrington and to investigate various aspects of organic agriculture at other farms with significant organic involvement. Post-conversion organic rotation at Terrington will be continued, and fertility building effects of contrasting legume species will be compared, over a 2-year conversion period. Optimum points in the rotation will be identified for the application of composted livestock manure and a final report on the performance of pigs finished outdoors during conversion will be prepared and published. In addition, a new experiment will be initiated to determine the best crop for the final year of the rotation. In order to investigate conditions on other farms, 10 primarily arable organic farms undergoing or post-conversion will be identified; individual organic and in-conversion crops will be subjected to financial analysis and their performance will be compared to that of conventional crops grown either on the same farm or in the same area. The commercial experiences of the farmers will help to interpret the wider applicability of the research results from Terrington.
This study looks in detail at the farms, motivations for being organic, conversion policy, rotations used and indivdual crop performances. It also provides a full financial analysis of the main enterprises and the farm business as a whole and compares results with those from ADAS Terrington. The three main objectives of the study are: (i) to provide a financial analysis of 10 commercial farms with a significant organic involvement; (ii) to cost individual organic and in-conversion crops and to compare their performance with conventional crops on the farm or grown locally; and (iii) to use the findings of the commercial farmers' experience to help interpret the wider applicabiilty of the reseacrh results from ADAS Terrington and to direxct future work.