Profitable Organic Farming (2^nd Ed.)

The demand for food produced from sustainable and organic farm enterprises continues to grow worldwide, with demand exceeding supply for many items. This second edition of an extremely well received and successful book covers every aspect of an organic farm enterprise that can have an influence on profitability. As such the book is an essential purchase for all those involved in organic and sustainable farming.

Topics covered in this second edition of Profitable Organic Farming include grassland productivity, production systems for dairy, beef, sheep, pig, poultry and arable farms, farm size and enterprise combinations, organic standards, financial management, marketing, success factors and progress by organic farmers. The book concludes with a new chapter covering potential future scenarios for organic farming.

Drawing on new information available in the area and including case studies from successful organic farm businesses, the author Jon Newton has written a book that is of great commercial use to a wide range of workers including organic farm managers and those wishing to commence organic farming operations. The book is also of great use and interest to agricultural scientists and students and those working in government and regional agricultural advisory services worldwide. Libraries in research establishments, universities and colleges where agricultural sciences are studied and taught should have several copies of this important and useful book on their shelves.

Review of the first edition

?It is an essential volume for any commercial organic farmers or budding organic farmers bookshelf. It will no doubt also be a very popular read and provide much food for thought amongst many agricultural students?: New Farmer & Grower.

Jon Newton is an agricultural consultant specialising in organic and sustainable agriculture based in North Wales, UK.

Foreword to the First Edition by the late Anne Scott; Acknowledgements; Useful Organic Farming Web Site Addresses; 1 Introduction; 2 Grassland Productivity; Grassland in Britain; Reasons for predicting the productivity of organic grassland; Factors influencing herbage yield; Methods of predicting grassland production; The effect of white clover; Herbage utilisation; Silage and hay production; References: 3 Dairy, Beef, and Sheep Production; Milk production; Beef production; Sheep production; References; 4 Pig and Poultry Production; Pig production; Poultry production; References; 5 Arable Production Systems; Rotations; Varieties; Weeds; Crop area; Nutrient removal and supply; Farmyard manure and composting; Crop yields; Arable crops; References; 6 Farm Size and and Enterprise Combinations; Farm size; Enterprise combinations; Animal systems; Enterprises and finance; References; 7 Organic Standards: Problems and Solutions; Beef calves; Beef; Pigs; Poultry; Dairy cows; Sheep; Weed control; Disease and pest control; References; Financial Management of the Farm; Cash flow; Costings; References; Further Reading; 9 Marketing Organic Produce; Challenges and opportunities; Current market channels and products; Organic symbol; Price; Market research and assessing your market; Final decision; Outlets; References; Further reading; 10 Progress by Organic Farmers; Insufficient organic grassland during conversion; The value and methods of introducing white clover; The control of internal parasites by grazing management; The phosphate story; Veterinary problems on organic farms; Selling organic meat; Selling organic milk; Yeo Valley Organic Company; Organic Cheese; Chisel Farm, Dorset; Good Herdsmen; The Watermill, Little Salkeld, Penrith; References; 11 Organic Farming- The Future; Index

Jon Newton is an agricultural consultant specialising in organic and sustainable agriculture based in North Wales, UK.