Organic Farming

The overall philosophy of organic farming is to work with natural systems to produce food rather than attempting to force those same systems into a shape of our making. It is working within the capacity of the environment.

Organic systems achieve this through:

  • Building healthy soils through crop rotations including clover that provides natural fertility. This also naturally controls pests and diseases.
  • Recycling natural wastes via composts and manures to enrich soils.
  • Protecting the environment and food by not using any artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides.
  • Maintaining high standards of animal welfare, using animals suited to the environment and with no routine use of medicines or feed additives.
  • Creating wildlife habitats to promote balanced ecosystems for enhanced biodiversity and controlling pests and diseases.
 



 

 

Organic at Wark

We have just completed our second year of conversion to certified organic farming at Wark. We are seeking to obtain the Soil Association organic standard (www.soilassociation.org.uk).

To achieve this we require to go through a two-year period of managing the farm to full organic standards. This means that all of our current farming practices are now to organic standards and have maintained this for two years with full annual inspections and records audits to see that we continue to maintain the standard - before and after we become certified to sell our produce as organic.

At Wark our organic system is based around a six year rotation of grass/clover (4 years) and cereals (2 years), with some protein and root crops, such as beans and Swedes, for our feed mixes, winter feed and wildlife conservation.

Alongside this rotation we place a very high emphasis on animal welfare, through the choice of appropriate breeds, allowing growth a pace that does not compromise the animals physiology or require many inputs. Animal health is managed through a health plan in conjunction with our vet and is based on preventative measures to promote natural herd health without medication.