Graig Producers, the Wales-based independent organic livestock marketing group, is calling for extreme caution if conventional farmers think organic lamb production is the answer to their current problem of low lamb prices.
Nigel Elgar, a Director of Graig Producers and a pioneer organic beef and lamb farmer from Montgomeryshire said "Last season has shown that there is limited market growth in organic lamb, and already we are close to or at market saturation. Already organic lamb prices are at historically low levels. More lambs coming on to the market, unless carefully timed in the season, will only exacerbate this situation. This is not the time to be starting a conversion period to organic lamb."
Graig Producers has been operating for over 10 years, and has the backing of the Prince of Wales. Representatives met recently with Welsh Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, who gave her support to the approach of independent producer marketing groups such as Graig Producers.
Following the meeting, Nigel Elgar commented "The Minister was very interested in our efforts on behalf of our members and the sector as a whole, and endorsed our approach. In the organic livestock sector we have made steady progress, not only in representing our members to the supermarkets' and their processors, but in generally opening up the food chain, and improving efficiency. From the processors point of view, we are a single phone call for their needs. We believe the way forward must be guaranteed minimum prices and volumes to groups such as ours in order to give our members the confidence to produce the quality and quantity of livestock when it is needed. It is surely in everyone's interest to make the whole chain sustainable, and that is our main aim."
Bob Kennard, Managing Director of Graig Producers commented "We would urge all organic beef and sheep farmers to work with an independent marketing group such as ours, and for those conventional farmers currently thinking that organic lamb will be the panacea they are seeking, we would urge the greatest caution. Talk to your regional independent organic marketing group before converting".
