The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Increased headline prices in the conventional arable sector should not be confused with improved profitability or that the conventional sector offers better prospects of improved profitability. Improving the financial performance of organic arable systems requires growers to develop robust systems that can maintain levels of fertility and crop yield and hence profitability. The paper will examine key elements in the cost structure on organic farmers and highlight ways in which growers can improve their profitability. The impact of yield will be considered as a means of improving returns for organic farms. The prospects for input costs in the conventional sector will also be considered.
