CALU – GWLAD 0305

Field scale vegetable growing – the potential and the markets

One implication of the Single Payment Scheme is that farmers have more freedom to consider alternative enterprises. One could be vegetable production, but is this feasible? Farmers need to consider the effect on their SPS, and, crucially, to assess what crops could be grown on their soils. Marketing also needs fully to be investigated at the planning stage.

Many areas of Wales have the potential to produce field vegetables, indeed until recently potatoes, carrots, swedes and other row crops were grown on farms for home use and to sell to local shops. It is important to remember when considering field vegetables however, that on livestock farms any forage land put down to vegetables will lose SPS entitlement.

Expert help to assess the suitability of land for vegetables is vital and through Farming Connect, farmers signing up for FBDP’s are entitled to a day of free technical advice. Some vegetable packers and co-operatives also provide consultants who can help new growers with their cropping programmes. ADAS is currently assessing potato varieties for blight resistance and performance vigour under Welsh conditions and also examining the possibilities for cultivating exotic mushrooms. Technical information on these and other crops will be available through CALU.

Growers supplying the multiples may feel there is little opportunity for farmers to diversify into vegetables. This is a specialised and technically demanding market, but there are other opportunities. We are seeing signs of renewed interest in buying locally not only at Farmers Markets, but also among public food procurers for schools and hospitals. Also as Wales becomes increasingly a tourist destination with a green and safe image, visitors want to buy and eat local produce. Already in areas like the Peak District networks of local food producers and holiday cottage owners are being developed that could be emulated in Wales.

Links:

· www.peakdistrictfoods.co.uk,

· www.localfoodworks.org