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Commonwork Organic Farms Limited

Developing the farm for the future - where should we go?

An integral part of Commonwork's educational and enterprise activities is a mixed organic dairy farm based on the heavy Wealden clay soil of Bore Place.

Opportunities in organic farming – training and work experience ‘tasters’ for adults and secondary schools.

When the dairy unit was first constructed in 1977 a handmade brick making operation was established to make use of the vast amount of clay displaced, and continues to be an exciting educational resource for visitors.

The organic conversion of the farm was started in 1995 and completed with few technical problems. Certification of its milk received on 1 April 2000 from the Organic Farms and Growers Limited, and organic conversion of all land completed between 1996-2001.

335 hectares are farmed in total, including 147 rented from neighbouring farms to increase self reliance in terms of feed stuff and to allow stock numbers to be kept up to around 260 cows.

It is run by Commonwork Organic Farms Limited which aims to operate a successful enterprise which makes the best possible use of available physical, financial and human resources and actively contributes to the educational work of Commonwork.

25 years of the dairy unit’s operation was completed on 4 October 2003 involving the milking of 4 million cows and production of 45 million litres of milk.

Advantages of organic production

	More sustainable farming system
	Meeting market needs
	Better milk prices
	Higher conservation and ecology standards
	Added educational value
	Enhanced quality of produce
	Infrequent veterinary visits

The dairy herd consists of Friesian Holstein, Monbeliarde crosses and Swedish Red milking cows which due to high quality forage, good rationing and excellent management are in fine condition. Milking is done twice a day at 5.00am and 2.30pm, through a 20 x 20 herringbone low level parlour with automatic cluster removal and milk transfer, taking on average 4 hours.

During the winter the cows are housed in timber-framed kennels clad with waney edged elm from locally felled trees. The integral feed passage enables the herd to be divided into groups according to dietary needs. Hygiene is carefully planned with dairy and slurry treatment at opposite ends of the large cow-cubicle building. All slurry and manure is used on the land to recycle fertility to the growing crops and add organic matter to the soil.

Organic Conversion process

Organic registration: with the Organic Farmers and Growers Limited

Land: a phased process of field conversion (1996-2001) now completed has resulted in grassland being in good condition in particular the cereals.

Cattle: the herd has been managed to organic standards from July 1999, and were fed organically for 12 weeks prior to obtaining organic status on 1 April 2000. With organic conversion there is less mastitis, foot trouble and metabolic problems, and in general appear happier and more content.

Milk: All milk is sold via the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative. The organic milk market continues to improve and grow in demand, and OMSCo are selling all their milk as organic now. Look for their own brand of milk ‘Altogether Better’ available as whole milk and semi-skimmed in Sainsbury’s stores.

To increase their production to meet this buoyant demand they are looking to members to increase their production and as a medium term strategy new members as well – 2 years are needed for non-organic dairy farms to convert. It means also that the price we are receiving for our milk has increased, which is good news. Countering this is the fact that organic feed prices and other costs are rising! However it is excellent to know we are again supplying a product which is wanted and valued by the market place.

First litres of organic milk leaving Bore Place on 1 April 2000.

Neil Adams (OMSC) congratulates Mike Cottrell (Farm Managing Director) on the achievement

Changes due to organic conversion

	Lower stocking rate Stocking rates have fallen from 2.1 cows per hectare to 1.7. as a result of discontinuing inorganic fertiliser applications. Grass leys have been replaced with white or red clover and grass leys, which are able to affix atmospheric nitrogen. However due to the renting of extra hectares total numbers will remain the same.
	No chemical sprays This means maize will cease to be grown for forage and replaced with cereal crops cut for silage. Also weeds, particularly docks, can be a problem so a topper has been purchased to stop them seeding and spreading.
	Less antibiotics We are using homeopathic remedies and do not now routinely antiobiotic tube all cows at drying off. However if a cow is seriously infected with the vet's advice we would still use antibiotics.
	Fewer veterinary fertility treatments During the four months breeding season the vet used to come each week, but last year only twice. This has greatly reduced veterinary bills but only marginally increased our calving index (average days/cows/calf)
	Increased time on milk for calves Calves now stay on milk for a minimum of 12 weeks (previously 6 weeks). Wormers are no longer used and we rely on grazing "clean" (no stock for at least one year) pastures.
	No routine chemicals For example fly control no longer involves spraying the cows with insecticide but relying on a fan in the milking parlour and a water mist over the door to prevent the flies coming into the parlour.
	Different feed content The biggest change has come as a result of needing high quality organic forage, which must make up at least 60% of the cow's ration, which means:

No protein feeds with genetically modified organisms

No animal proteins

No general mineral and vitamin supplements

No extracted (chemically) protein feeds

With a reduced range of concentrate feeds available and a lower concentrate feed rate cow yields have fallen to 6,000 litres per cow per year.

Sustainability

	In order to be able to grow on site most of what our cows need, a 5 year lease was taken out on neighbouring arable land. This has proved a financial and practical success and we aim to renew the tenancy in the near future. All land has achieved organic conversion.
	We will recycle our own nutrients, and our slurry and Farm Yard Manure will be of even greater importance and will be spread over the whole of the Farm to aid plant growth.

Rosé veal

We have been producing rose veal for the past 4-5 years. It has been one way of utilising dairy male calves which are not good enough for prime beef.

The calves are reared until they are 6-7 months old on a mixed diet; predominantly milk but also containing cereals, silage and hay. This mixed diet gives the meat its rose pink colour. The calves have access to space in social groups of six to twelve animals, bedded on straw with plenty of daylight.

The product is good to eat with a delicate but sweet flavour. It is not to be confused with while veal kept in dimly lit veal crates! Currently we have approx. 50 animals per year and all our supply is sold to selected butchers, retailers and restaurants.
To find out more contact: MikeC@commonwork.org.

Farming for the future

The farm buildings to house the dairy herd, built in 1978, are coming to the end of their life. We will therefore need to decide what we replace them with. This is an ideal opportunity to think about our farming system. Do we need to change it? Is it an appropriate educational resource for our young and adult visitors? What effect will climate change have on our farming system? How can we reduce our greenhouse emissions which contribute to climate change? What are the main energy issues we can practically tackle? This process of asking questions and exploring the way forward with our stakeholders to develop the farm of the future, will take place up to summer 2007 when we will need to put plans in place to rebuild, if that is the decision, in 2008.

Background

When the founders of Commonwork bought Bore Place in 1976 they decided the best thing to grow on the heavy weald clay was grass. This would be utilised by a new dairy herd and give an opportunity to add value by using the muck to make garden products via a methane digester, and hence increase rural employment.

Milking was started in October 1978 and the herd grew to 360 cows giving an annual yield of 2.3 million litres. Since then we have seen the introduction of milk quotas in 1983 resulting in a reduction in herd size, and a dramatic fall in milk prices.

Farm Team

Mike Cottrell
Managing Director

Mark Oxley Herd Manager

John Caunter Head Herdperson

Win Terry
Dairy Manager

Charlie Nichols
Repairs and Maintenance

Martin Roberts
Herdperson

Tom Lewthwaite Tractor Driver/general farm worker

Local Secondary School pupils Work experience student

Farm continues to provide annual placements for Emerson College students and to offer short term work experience to local school students.