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- Agroecology at Scale
Demonstrating Agroecology at Scale
Our Agroecology at Scale programme brings together farmers, land owners and other farm practitioners to learn about sustainable farming and scale up its adoption across the UK.
We know from years of experience that farmers learn best from other farmers. In supportive, dynamic groups, they can listen to each other's successes and challenges.
Underpinning this knowledge exchange is science-based research. It's led by a range of academic and research organisations our farming advisors know and trust.
Winter feeding and economics for beef and sucklers
Tuesday 4th March, 2-5.30pm
Bolton Village Hall, Alnwick NE66 2EE
Beef and suckler farmers, join our farming advisor Tabitha Acton for a workshop discussing the practicalities and economics of winter feeding. She’s joining forces with Emily Grant from Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). They will look at winter feeding systems and the impact on costs and production. We'll cover:
- analysing your business
- understanding fixed and variable costs
- identifying key KPI metrics
- highlighting how key resources are being utilised
We will hear some of the practical experiences of George Burrell at Broome Park Farms (an Agroecology at Scale Demonstration Farm).
>> Register here
Agroforestry at Hall Farm
Thursday 13th March, 10.30-2pm
Brooksby Campus, Melton Mowbray LE14 2LJ
Join us for a farm walk looking at different agroforestry practices adopted at this working mixed farm campus in Leicestershire. It will include information on Biodiversity Net Gain and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
The walk includes:
- 20 acre field, divided into paddocks of herbal ley and mob-grazed predominately with cattle. These paddocks are divided up by alleys of mixed trees, including a range of fruit-bearing and nitrogen-fixing species.
- Six acre field divided up into rows of trees, a mixture of native and fruit and nut trees, and individually guarded with sweet chestnut. This overlays a diverse herbal pasture which is planned to be mob-grazed with sheep.
- The developing third system with pigs, currently in its early stages.
We'll be inviting farmers to join an agroforestry farming focused learning network.
>> Register here
Whole farm approach to feeding dairy cows
Wednesday 26th March, 10.30am-2pm
Godminster Farm, Bruton BA10 0NE
Organic dairy farm manager, Peter Cheek, leads a farm walk. There will also be a discussion about growing high nutrient resilient forage in ways that maximises soil health, biodiversity and climate outcomes.
Topics covered include:
- whole crop silages (oats, bean, rye mix), and how they fit in the rotation - timing and entry point in, establishment, weed management in absence of herbicides
- Westerwold Ryegrass, vetch and clover mix
- benefit of pea / barley mix - establishment, timing in the rotation
- diverse leys – managing to maximise production and longevity
- composting of manures to maximise nutrient stability and return
We'll also look at how these approaches are building organic matter and improving soil structure.