Preface to the twelfth edition (2023) Preface to the first edition (1994) Acknowledgements SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION Why an Organic Farm Management Handbook? What is organic farming? Organic farming in the United Kingdom and in Europe The nature of the organic farm business Gross margins and organic farming systems Further reading SECTION 2: MARKETING Market developments and organic consumers Market outlets Market developments during 2022/2 Accessing the organic markets Rural development grants for marketing and processing Further reading SECTION 3: CERTIFICATION Organic farming production standards in the UK International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Organic Farmers & Growers CIC. Organic Food Federation Biodynamic Agricultural Association (BDA Certification) Soil Association Certification Irish Organic Association Organic Trust CLG. Quality Welsh Food Certification Ltd. SECTION 4: CONVERTING TO ORGANIC FARMING The conversion process Conversion costs Conversion planning Organic conversion information and advisory services Conversion support under the organic farming grant schemes Step by step guide to organic conversion SECTION 5: WHOLE FARM PERSPECTIVES Why a whole-farm approach? Whole-farm financial performance Arable systems Dairy systems Beef/sheep systems Specialist horticultural systems Organic Farming Support Schemes Direct payments Payments for Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) Further reading SECTION 6: CROP PRODUCTION Soil management, soil analysis and rotation design Crop nutrition and nutrient budgeting Seeds, seed potatoes and transplants Crop protection Further reading SECTION 7: ARABLE CROP MARGINS General information and assumptions Further reading Wheat Spelt wheat Barley Oats Rye Triticale Field beans Dry peas Lupins SECTION 8: ROOT CROPS, FIELD-SCALE VEGETABLES AND HORTICULTURE GROSS MARGINS General Prices and marketing outlets/costs Further reading Seed potatoes Potatoes Carrots and parsnips Beetroot and table swedes Leeks Onions Cauliflower and Calabrese Cabbages Lettuce Courgettes Celery Sweetcorn Strawberries Apples and Pears Performance of small organic production holdings SECTION 9: FORAGE CROPS AND GREEN MANURES Forage and catch crops Permanent grassland Leys and grassland Green manures/cover crops Arable forage, forage brassicas and root crops Undersown forage Further reading SECTION 10: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION Role of livestock on organic farms Livestock nutrition Livestock health Calculating livestock units for grazing animals Support payments for livestock and stock disposal Further reading SECTION 11: LIVESTOCK GROSS MARGINS Dairy cows - Friesian/Holstein all year round calving Dairy cows - Friesian/Holstein, spring calving Beef production Sheep production Pig production Laying hens (producer-packer) Table poultry (producer-killed and dressed) SECTION 12: FIXED COSTS Land Labour use and costs Machinery Manure handling and storage Agricultural Waste Buildings and other capital assets SECTION 13: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Environmental management and organic farming Agri-environment/Environmental Land Management grant schemes Trees and hedges on farms Agroforestry Further reading SECTION 14: SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION The importance of information Providers of advice, information, training, and events Publications SECTION 15: ADDRESSES Organic membership organisations Organic advice and research Organic education and training Governmental grant-awarding agencies and advisory services SECTION 16: INDEX.