Mechanical weed control can reduce the high costs of hand weeding in organic horticulture. © Garden Organic
Mechanical weed control can reduce the high costs of hand weeding in organic horticulture. © Garden Organic


Plastic mulch is another way of cost effective weed control during early plant development. © Garden Organic
Plastic mulch is another way of cost effective weed control during early plant development. © Garden Organic


Farm economics

Farm Economics of Organic Horticulture

This work encompasses assessments of organic horticultural businesses, through whole farm and enterprise analysis, in order to evaluate trends in economic performance, resource-use efficiency, and their implications on the economic sustainability of organic farms.

We use a standard set of benchmarking techniques, including the Farm Business Survey (FBS) whole farm analysis, gross and net margins, and full cost accounting.

For sharing new ideas and developing further research projects, please do not hesitate to contact us. (Ulrich Schmutz)

Current projects in this area


The Sustainable Organic Vegetable Systems Network
This project began in June 2003 and will, by monitoring the performance of vegetable rotations and new developments and innovations, identify the agronomic, financial and management factors which contribute towards sustainable organic vegetable systems.
For more details, follow this link:
Sustainable Organic Vegetable Systems Network

Economics of Organic Farming
Garden Organic is responsible for collecting whole farm data from 12 horticultural farms
For more details, follow this link:
Economics of Organic Farming

Economics of Organic Top Fruit
Garden Organic collects and analyses whole farm and crop margin data from 5 top fruit farms. For more details, follow this link:
The Economics of Organic Top Fruit Production in England


Organic Farm Management Handbook
Garden Organic is involved in collating organic vegetable economic and marketing information for this publication with Organic Farming Research Unit, Institute of Rural Studies University of Wales, Aberystwyth. For more details on the 2002/03 book, follow this link: 2002/03 Organic Farm Management Handbook


An Integrated Analysis of Scale Effects in Alternative Agricultural Systems
Garden Organic is responsible for collecting and analysing agronomic and economic data from both organic and conventional farms in this project in which other partners will investigate hydrological, environmental and social data and information from the same farms.
For more details, follow this link:
An Integrated Analysis of Scale Effects in Alternative Agricultural Systems

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