What is Organic Centre Wales?Organic Centre Wales is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government and was established in 2000 to provide information for the organic sector in Wales. It is run by a partnership of ADAS Wales, Aberystwyth University and The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm. About the Centre

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Organic Farming Scheme/Organic Farming Conversion Scheme

The Assembly Government’s organic farming schemes (the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Farming Conversion Scheme) are designed to provide support to farmers during conversion to organic production and for their continued organic status during the lifetime of the agreement.

Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has announced arrangements for the opening of the second and final Organic Farming Conversion Scheme application window. The window will be open between 15 November 2010 and 03 December 2010 to all those who began, or will begin, conversion to organic between 2 January 2010 and 1 January 2011. For the full text of the WAG click here


Existing OFS/OFCS agreement holders will be able to enter Glastir with the option of either continuing with their current agreement or by taking up the 50% points reduction (see below).
An organic conversion fund will also be included within the Glastir scheme. Information on the implications of organic conversion for your business is available through the free Organic Conversion Information Service

Scheme updates: Visit our News page.

Glastir

Glastir replaces the Organic Farming Schemes, Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal and Tir Mynydd.
All farmers that were in organic support schemes before 2007, will have been transferred to the OFS(2) scheme on 15th May 2008, therefore their agreements will end on 14th May 2013. Additional land taken on after that date will be under an agreement for 5 years from the date the agreement started for the individual parcel.

IF YOU WISH TO ENTER GLASTIR in 2012, you can:
• Use the 50% points allowance available for organic farms* – you will have to terminate your existing OFS/OFCS agreement on 31 December 2011. All of the land entered into Glastir must remain certified as fully organic throughout the 5 year Glastir contract period.
• Enter without using the 50% organic points allowance, thereby continuing your current agreement (and receiving the payments) until the 5 year agreement on each parcel entered into the OFS/OFCS scheme has expired.

IF YOU ALSO HOLD A TIR GOFAL AGREEMENT, you can:
• Apply to Glastir if you can provide ADDITIONAL environmental benefits on top of your existing Tir Gofal arrangements OR
• Apply for Glastir from the beginning of the year after your Tir Gofal agreement finishes.

*The Glastir All Wales Element Booklet 1 General Guidance indicates that to be eligible to receive the 50% points reduction all of the land entered into Glastir All Wales Element must be certified as fully organic at or before 1st January 2012.

Farmers with all organic land should therefore check their existing agreement to see when agreements on individual parcels of land are due to end: farmers must decide if they wish to forego the final months’ payments and enter Glastir with 50% reduced points target, enter Glastir without the 50% points reduction maintaining any existing agreements or whether to hold off entering Glastir until a later year. (Note: this would delay the opportunity to express interest in TE until after 2013).

If you have conventional land, or land in conversion on 1st Jan 2012, you will have to achieve the standard points requirements. If you wish to talk through these issues, please contact the OCW helpline on 01970 622100.

Details of the Targeted Element (TE) of Glastir, including the payments rates, options and maps are available at www.wales.gov.uk/glastir. Farmers that have been successful in obtaining an AWE contract, and also expressed an interest in the TE on their 2010 SAF will have the farms assessed for ability to deliver against the objectives identified on the target maps. This process will show the potential that each farm has to deliver against the TE objectives. Each farm will be allocated a score based upon the range and scale of delivery that can be achieved on the farm. The scores will be adjusted to take account of farm size and all those who expressed an interest will be contacted by the Welsh Assembly Government with the outcome of their assessment.

Farmers have until 22 November 2010 to return their completed application form to join the All-Wales Element of Glastir from 1 January 2012.

OCW will help with support for meetings where possible but our resources are limited. Please contact the or phone 01970 622100.