OVERCOMING the challenges facing organic producers in the north was the theme of a farming conference organised last week by the Soil Association.

It was held in the Fadmoor village hall and was followed by a walk on the farm of Rosemary and Howard Wass, in the afternoon.

The aim of the conference, which was attended by about 40 farmers and growers who were mainly from the northern part of the UK, was to provide help and guidance on matters like the new EU livestock regulations and the rules applying to organic seed. Bill Yeats and Rob Haward, of the Soil Association, guided delegates through the changes in the EEC rules presently being implemented in the UK.

Marketing and the impact of the supermarkets on the sales of organic produce, as well as the quality of the organic produce which was being sold direct to the public, was outlined by Alan Schofield, an organic market gardener, from Preston in Lancashire.

He spoke at length about the impact the supermarket chains were having on the organic food market and explained how he marketed his produce, through the "box system", in conjunction with other growers in he area.

He emphasised the need for producers to maintain high class produce in their direct sales, with the need to maintain the same high standards as those required by the supermarkets.

Kate Rogerson, from the Northern Organic Food Initiative, talked about the need for cooperation, both as producers and also in marketing. She also highlighted the problems of organic production faced by growers in the north, because of our colder and harder climatic conditions.

After an organic lunch, Howard Wass explained how he ran the Newfields Organic Farm and then took the audience on a walk around his farm in the village of Fadmoor.