organic farming

emmemm

with abysmal beef prices prevailing my thoughts are turning to the green world which is farming organically.
is this a vocation?
are the subs more than compensation for the hassle?
anyone trying it and regretting ever going down that road.
what are the greatest minuses?

fits

I dont know much about it, but consider this.. Its going to be an awful year for cereal harvests globally, driving the cost of beef production and hence the price of beef up... Irish grass-based production will be pretty immune to this, so hang in there for the moment anyway.
Have you contacted IOFGA?

emmemm

with South American countries enjoying free access to our markets it's foolish to try and compete.
all this expenditure from farmer and government on farmyard development seems like money down the drain to me.
if direct payments are phased out I envisage a steep decline in farm numbers with auctioneers reaping the rewards of a defunct economy.
grants will still be available.......for tree planting.

ravima

REPS is great for Organic, especially in the changeover period. I have not idscused it yet with advisor, but wonder what happens when changed over, if you decide to go back to non organic farming?

There appears to be a premium price for produce, but I do not know how much of that goes to farmer and how much to retailers.

If parttime farming, then it might be worthwhile.

lightening

City boy here.

Sorry for dragging up an old post, but I am becoming increasingly fussier about where my food comes from. I am insisting in Irish produce as much as I can. (economy and health reasons) I also am avoiding supermarkets. (I think they are choking agriculture in Ireland)

Recently I was at my local market (St. Annes in Raheny in Dublin) and I saw a organic veg stand. I bought a few bits and pieces, when I got home I was horrified to see it was the same price and in some cases CHEAPER than the Superquinn I use!

From now on its organic fruit and veg directly from the farmer and meat from my local butcher.

mike65

Not sure I'd go into organics now as mentioned above the price of feeds esp non GMO is skyrocketing. a tonne of soya was 280 is now 360 and thats in less than a year. If you can grow non GMO soya then you'll be rich!

Mike.