27th September 2021

Going Organic at South Ormsby Estate

South Ormsby Estate is in the process of going organic. The organic conversion process for land takes 2 years and South Ormsby Estate will be organic certified by the end of 2022. There are 2 main organic certification bodies in the UK, the Organic Farmers and Growers (OF&G) and the Soil Association. South Ormsby Estate is being certified by the Organic Farmers and Growers. South Ormsby Estate will be in conversion to organic status for beef, animal, and arable produce throughout 2022.

South Ormsby Estate is going organic because we care about the health of our animals, the environment, local wildlife, biodiversity, and our soils.

What are the benefits of going Organic?

There are many benefits to going organic, organic farming can reduce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Improving the structure of the soil means that soil will hold more water and carbon dioxide. Using no pesticides means that there are more insects, which are food for birds, bats, and other wildlife.

Organic Farming is Better for Wildlife, Animals and the Environment

No Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser

Nitrogen is essential for plants to grow, however, modern agricultural techniques have relied on chemical fertilisers, which has led to land, air, and water pollution. Nitrous oxide is a potent (300 times more potent than carbon dioxide) and long-lived (stays in the atmosphere for 114 years) greenhouse gas and makes up 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 3/4 of those emissions come from agriculture.

Also producing ammonia (nitrogen) fertiliser accounts for 1 % of all global energy use and 1.4 % of carbon dioxide emissions.

Nitrogen runoff into watercourses and then into the sea can create ocean dead zones, which deprive life below the water of vital oxygen.

By not using artificial nitrogen fertiliser we reduce pollution of local watercourses, reduce nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) emissions and carbon dioxide emissions.

Instead of chemical fertilisers we use organic matter (manure) from the Lincoln Red cattle, which dung beetles and worms takedown into the soil. We also use legume crops and clover leys, which are nitrogen-fixing plants that take nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil for other plants to use. We also use organic poultry manure.

No Pesticides Means More Biodiversity

No Pesticides

Most pesticides used in agriculture today aren’t specific to one pest and that is the problem, pesticides kill beneficial plants, fungi, and insects.

Organic farming works at creating healthy soil so that plants that grow are healthier and less susceptible to disease, use rotation to prevent the buildup of pests, and attract beneficial insects that eat other insects.

Insects of all types play different roles in a healthy ecosystem by not using pesticides insects flourish. Some are pollinators like bees and hoverflies, some recycle nutrients into the soil like dung beetles, most are a food source for other insects, bats, and birds.

Stopping using pesticides means biodiversity increases.

Higher Animal Welfare

To be certified organic any farms with livestock have to meet high animal welfare standards, cows have to spend on average 200 days out on pasture and eat mainly grass. Our Lincoln Red Cattle are Pasture for Life Certified so have a 100% grass-based diet and are outside in the paddocks for 9 months of the year.

Organic chickens live in smaller flocks, which is better for their health and prevents stress from overcrowding. They have continuous and easy daytime access to the outdoors. Organic chickens must be able to express their natural behaviours, such as foraging and pecking at insects. Our Lincolnshire Buff chickens are rotationally grazed following after the Lincoln Red Cattle have been in the grass paddocks.

Improving the structure of soil and nutrients in it

Healthy organic soil has more organic matter and nutrients in it, which are more bioavailable for plants than artificial fertilisers. Soil is not just brown mud it is a complex ecosystem consisting of worms, burrowing insects, fungi, and many different types of microbes. Organic soil can hold more water and carbon dioxide due to its improved structure and the variety of microbes in the soil.

“Organic soils are around 25% more effective at storing carbon in the long term, with soil carbon increasing on average by 2.2% per year after converting to organic.” Quote from Soil Association website.

Organic farming is one of the ways farmers and landowners can contribute to tackling the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity. It is also a sustainable way to feed people a healthier diet with fewer pesticides and more nutrients in the food they eat. Organic farming is the future of South Ormsby Estate and we will keep you updated with the conversion process over the next year and look forward to being fully organic certified in 2023.

References

Articles about Nitrogen

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210603-nitrous-oxide-the-worlds-forgotten-greenhouse-gas

https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/fixing-nitrogen-the-challenge-for-climate-nature-and-health/

Animal Welfare

https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/why-organic/better-for-animals/