Abstract
ABSTRACT In response to the Curry Report, the U.K. Government's Organic Action Plan aims to increase the area of organic production. In addition, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform will provide an incentive for farmers to become more market-led and examine alternative production possibilities. However, the two-year conversion period represents a barrier to organic production. In a stockless system the typical conversion strategy is a red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)—ryegrass (Lolium sp. L.) green manure, attracting both Area Aid Payments (AAP) and Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) subsidies. Six alternative strategies to this green manure were tested in a replicated randomized block field experiment. Gross margin analysis of the conversion strategies in the presence and absence of AAP and OFS payments are presented. Sensitivity analysis of crop yields and prices indicates the robustness of the gross margin analysis. Where contracts to supply red clover seed can be obtained, growing clover seed in year 1 of conversion followed by a clover green manure in year 2 provides the highest mean annual gross margin, measured over the two-year conversion period and the first organic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. In the absence of a clover seed contract the two-year red clover-ryegrass green manure provides the highest mean annual gross margin, and is therefore likely to remain a popular conversion strategy. This holds given the decoupling (absence) of AAPs due the enhanced yield of the first organic wheat crop compared with more exploitative conversion strategies. Other strategies that may be appropriate include oats (Avena sativa L.) followed by beans (Vicia faba L.), however a change in policy on acceptable organic conversion crops would be required to enable this strategy to be considered.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Where clover seed contracts exist, growing clover seed in year 1 followed by clover green manure in year 2 gives the highest mean annual gross margin.
- Treatment
- growing clover seed in year 1 of conversion followed by a clover green manure in year 2e0
- Outcome
- mean annual gross margine0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Qualifier
- Where contracts to supply red clover seed can be obtainede0
TrifoliumNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Where contracts to supply red clover seed can be obtained, growing clover seed in year 1 of conversion followed by a clover green manure in year 2 provides the highest mean annual gross margin”
Claim · model-written summary
Without a clover seed contract, the two-year red clover-ryegrass green manure gives the highest mean annual gross margin.
- Taxon
- red clover
Trifolium pratensee1 - Treatment
- two-year red clover-ryegrass green manuree1
- Outcome
- mean annual gross margine1
- Direction
- higheste1
- Qualifier
- In the absence of a clover seed contracte1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“In the absence of a clover seed contract the two-year red clover-ryegrass green manure provides the highest mean annual gross margin”
Claim · model-written summary
The first organic wheat crop had an enhanced yield compared with more exploitative conversion strategies.
- Taxon
- wheat
Triticum aestivume2 - Outcome
- yield of the first organic wheat crope2
- Direction
- enhancede2
- Comparator
- more exploitative conversion strategiese2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“the enhanced yield of the first organic wheat crop compared with more exploitative conversion strategies”
Claim · model-written summary
Oats followed by beans may be an appropriate conversion strategy if policy on acceptable conversion crops changes.
- Taxon
- oats (Avena sativa L.)
Avena sativae3 - Outcome
- oats (Avena sativa L.) followed by beans (Vicia faba L.)e3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Other strategies that may be appropriate include oats (Avena sativa L.) followed by beans (Vicia faba L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The gross margin analysis is robust to changes in crop yields and prices.
- Outcome
- robustness of the gross margin analysise4
- Qualifier
- Sensitivity analysis of crop yields and pricese4
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e4“Sensitivity analysis of crop yields and prices indicates the robustness of the gross margin analysis”
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See all 37 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.