Organic Farming

Where spring crops grown,
start conversion before normal sowing time in spring. After 24 months, can sow your first full organic status crop

Where winter crops grown,
start conversion before normal sowing time in autumn. After 24 months, can sow your first full organic status crop

Simultaneous conversion: sheep

• Before normal hay/silage time
• After 24 months, weaned lambs can be sold as full organic status, and full organic status hay/silage can be secured for following winter

Simultaneous conversion: spring calving cows

• At least 3 months before normal calving time
• After 24 months, calves/finishing cattle can be sold as full organic status

Simultaneous conversion: autumn calving cows

• At least 3 months before normal calving time
• Before normal hay/silage time
• After 24 months, calves/finishing cattle can be sold as full organic status and full organic status hay/silage can be secured for following winter.

In practice, the time of starting the conversion may be dictated by:

• a) whether acceptance into the Scottish Government Organic Aid Scheme is an essential pre-requisite of conversion, and
• b) if so whether you intend to wait for confirmation of provisional acceptance into the OAS from the Scottish Government before starting conversion.

If acceptance into the OAS is a pre-requisite of conversion to organic, and you do not intend to start converting until after you have received confirmation of your provisional acceptance into the OAS (usually received in August), you will probably start converting at some time during the autumn.

If your farm has a high proportion of land which has been eligible for Arable Area Payments, you may wish to start converting the land in spring (no earlier than March 1st), on the assumption that your application for the OAS will have a good chance of being accepted.

This means that the land will be fully organic two years later in the spring, and you will be able to sow a full organic status crop.