Farming System: Dairy

Agroforestry in the uplands

Three UK upland farmers talk about how they are integrating and using trees to their best advantage on their farms in this video by the Soil Association (supported by FABulous Farmers). They refer to the benefits of giving their livestock access to trees and hedgerows and give their insights in to why trees are good for the animals (through providing shelter, shade and browse/fodder), soil health, biodiversity, the environment (i.e. flood protection and carbon storage) and the farm income. The video features beef cattle and sheep farmer Andrew Barbour from Mains of Fincastle in Perthshire, sheep farmer Glansant Morgan from Pwllyrhwyaid Farm near Brecon in Wales, and dairy farmer Freya Meredith from Lower Withecombe Farm on Dartmoor in Devon. It also features Luke Dale Harris (Innovative Farmers silvopasture trial co-ordinator from FWAG SW) and Kate Still from the Soil Association Farming Team.

Agroforestry in dairy systems, a part of Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying (SOLID)

This project supported developments and innovations in organic and low input dairy systems to maximise on the potential of these systems to deliver environmental goods and biodiversity, and optimise on economic, agronomic and nutritional advantages to develop innovative and sustainable organic and low input dairy systems and supply chains. Of particular interest in the project outputs is a farmer handbook containing a series of technical notes.

The project included investigating the potential of integrating bioenergy production from short rotation coppice with dairy systems for alternative feed resources, improved animal welfare, enhanced productivity and environmental benefits. The website presents findings from the project.

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