Established Tasmanian organic farmers say support packages for primary producers, wishing to switch from conventional methods, must address the different mindset required to transition.
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association is surveying primary producers to gain feedback on what information potential organic producers require.
The TFGA is asking for information about workshop content and locations.
The survey is part of the state government's $230,000 Advancing Organic Agribusiness Grants Program, to be delivered over three years.
The program will assist producers, and agri-food businesses interested in transitioning to organic production methods, certification and market development.
Mark Benson, Biofarms Tasmania, Forth, has been growing organic vegetables with his two brothers for 20 years.
They produce organically grown vegetables including carrots, red and brown onions, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, green and red cabbage, pumpkin, and beetroot.
"Certification itself is always an interesting thing to get used to, there is quite a bit of learning there, the organic standards are quite stringent," Mr Benson said.
"The second issue is marketing, that's another major hurdle.
"There are established markets for many lines.
"But in order to start breaking into a market is not easy, by any means.
"You need to have an exceptionally good products and consistency of supply
"You have to be patient, for the first two or three years, until you establish yourself."
Organics also required more labor than conventional methods.
"Be prepared to hire a lot of people," Mr Benson said.
"You have to just about completly scrap your convential mindset towards growing organic products - you have to ditch all the chemical inputs, you require for conventional farming, and pretty much learn for yourself all the products you require for growing organics.
"There is not really a one-stop-shop to get all the answers."
Market information
Rex Williams, who produces organic beef, apples and pork, at Kelty Farm, Woodbridge, said the demand for organics continued to grow.
He said he felt more established farmers might be looking for more products, or latest farm practices.
Mr Williams said when he started out, more than 20 years ago, he would have liked more market information.
"You had to make your own markets," he said.
"There weren't that many products on the market, it was all very much a case of doing your own thing, and learning as you go."
"It would have been nice to have known then how productive farms would continue to be, after years under an organic regime, whether there was a dropoff in production, or fertility.
"That long term data would have been valuable, and it probably still is."
Mr Williams said it was very timely, given the interest in organic production particularly on a larger scale.
"The main change, in the last four to five years, is the size of properties,
He said he found switching to organic systems easy.
"To my way, there was no other option, for myself, my family, or the earth - it's an easy answer, because it's the right thing to do.
"People might be used to the old ways of doing things, for years and years and generations, and their mindset is not quite right, yes, it's hard for them."
To my way, there was no other option, for myself, my family, or the earth - it's an easy answer, because it's the right thing to do.
- Rex Williams, Tasmanian organic farmer
Ask many questions
Vegetable grower and consultant James Hutchinson, Longley Organic Farm, Longley, said support would depend on which area farmers were working in, or intended to transition into.
"There are a whole range of issues around it," Mr Hutchinson said.
As chief executive of Active Vista, he said he supplied equipment and offered a consultation service to farmers across Australia and New Zealand.
"That is focussed on horticulture, specifically for small scale farmers, so I work in a niche sector.
"The sort of things they come to me about are what varieties they should be growing, how should they be preparing the soil, money they should spend in the first year on infrastructure and how to get products out to market," he said.
"There are the standard questions, like access to water, how do you work out the value of renting land, the sort of returns you can expect if you put in infrastructure."
He said organics was a growth sector, which had been "powering ahead" over the last four years.
"The more people that are doing it, the more accessible it is becoming."
In the first year the program will deliver up to $65,550.00 in funding through the Advancing Organic Agribusiness Grants Program.
The survey can be found at:
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
