Thrill of The Hill - Organic Outlook: Planning for Conversion
Organic farming in Scotland is entering a period of renewed growth. The latest Scottish Government statistics show that, in 2025, 168,200 hectares of Scottish agricultural land were either fully organic or undergoing conversion — an increase of 28% on 2024 and 62% since 2021. Of this, 115,800 hectares were fully organic, while 52,400 hectares were in conversion, around double the area recorded the previous year. Organic and in-conversion land now accounts for 3.3% of Scotland’s agricultural area.For businesses considering making the change, organic conversion is about considerably more than simply replacing conventional inputs. The conversion period provides an opportunity to examine the whole farming system — including rotations, soil fertility, nutrient management, grass and clover production, livestock management, markets and the financial implications of operating within organic standards. A well-developed conversion plan is central to understanding whether organic farming is both practically achievable and financially sustainable for an individual business.In this episode of Thrill of the Hill, we are joined by Ewan Johnston, Principal Consultant with SAC Consulting and the Farm Advisory Service Topic Lead for Organics. Based at Thainstone in Aberdeenshire, Ewan has more than 25 years of agricultural consultancy experience, having worked in Shetland and Moray before moving to the North East. His career has given him experience across a broad range of Scottish farming systems, from crofting, hill and upland livestock enterprises through to intensive lowland arable businesses.Growing demand for organic advice led Ewan to complete an MSc in Organic Farming, and he has since developed particular expertise in organic production, soil and nutrient management, grassland and clover-based systems, alongside wider crop, livestock and farm business management. He is BASIS, FACTS and FBAASS accredited, sits on theScottish Organic Producers Association technical advisory committee and teaches organic farming to students at SRUC.As FAS Topic Lead for Organics, Ewan is also working to broaden the conversation beyond farms already committed to certification, looking at how principles and practices associated with organic farming can be integrated into conventional and regenerative systems.In this episode, we discuss what farmers and crofters need to consider before beginning an organic conversion, what goes into preparing an organic conversion plan, where the potential opportunities and challenges lie, and why planning the farming system as a whole is so important before taking the first step towards certification.This episode is brought to you by the Farm Advisory Service, presented by Alexander Pirie, produced by Heather Stuart, edited by Kieron Sim, with executive producers Kirstyn Blackwood and Kerry Hammond.Timestamps00.57 Introducing Ewan Johnston03.26 Where are we at now in Scotland with organic conversions04.19 What goes into the organic conversion plan08.14 The conversion plan is a live document09.50 Timeline for the conversion process11.18 Standard conversion and simultaneous conversion12.58 Be clear in your own mind why you want to go organic14.35 Information to include in a conversion plan18.00 How should seasonal grazing be viewed18.50 Partial conversion & parallel production20.55 Nutrient management24.06 Stocking rates and forage demand25.40 Dispelling the myth – animal health in organic systems28.10 Record keeping31.06 Common mistakes in conversion plans33.45 Ewan's take home messageResourcesAccess a range of FAS Organic information and guides here Organic Information | Helping farmers in ScotlandRural Payments and Services: Organic Farming: ConversionSoil AssociationScottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA)Get in touch with Ewan [email protected] in touch with the show [email protected] more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: [email protected]
