Volume 12: Livestock Farming
10. Organic farming
What is organic farming?

10.2 In 1986 organic farming accounted for 1 per cent of agricultural land use in the UK. Its principal aim is to create integrated, humane, environmentally and economically sustainable production systems. It relies on locally or farm-derived renewable resources, with use of external inputs reduced to a minimum. Artificial fertilisers and pesticides are avoided, and crop rotations and other forms of husbandry are used to maintain fertility and control weeds, pests and diseases.

10.3 Livestock form an integral part of most organic farms, and are supported as far as possible from the farm's own resources. Organic farms are also 'land based': that is, there are no intensively housed stock, or systems where large amounts of feed are bought in. Organic producers aim to achieve a close interrelationship between crop and animal production by establishing as much self-sufficiency in manure and animal feed on the farm unit as possible.

10.4 MAFF has provided an Organic Aid Scheme to farmers in England since 1994. Parallel schemes operate in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.