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Carbon Audits in Scotland – use The Farm Carbon Calculator

Posted on April 9, 2025 by - Calculator, Uncategorized

Highland Cow

Thousands have already used The Farm Carbon Calculator in Scotland to generate a carbon footprint of their farm. You may be required to receive a Carbon Audit under the Whole Farm Plan guidance and be aware that the first Audits are to be completed by by 15 May 2025 – get started for free.

We’ve brought as much of the guidance you need together in one place so that farmers, growers and crofters in Scotland feel confident to get started.

Download Guide (pdf)

Learn more in our upcoming webinar – Carbon Audit Pro

Perfect for farmers and farm professionals in Scotland looking to understand how The Farm Carbon Calculator can help deliver Carbon Audits – at any scale.

Join us online, 24 April at 4pm

Register Now

Free Carbon Audits

There are around 51,000 farms in Scotland, and agricultural land makes up almost 80% of the area. Not all farms will want, or need a carbon audit, but we want to ensure as many as possible can get one for free if they want, or from a consultant, using The Farm Carbon Calculator.

In Scotland the receipt of future payments from the Scottish Government are dependent partly on the requirement that farms generate what they call a Carbon Audit – or what we term your farm’s carbon footprint. You can use several tools to complete this task – provided they meet criteria set out in the guidance and are compliant with PAS2050:

  1. The Farm Carbon Calculator
  2. Agrecalc 
  3. Cool Farm Tool
  4. Solagro (JRC) Carbon Calculator.

Useful to note, if you think you already have a carbon footprint it is likely that this will be accepted by the SGRPID. These might be delivered to you as part of a  UK supply chain contract (via the dairy, someone you supply, or supermarket agreements), by the Farm Advisory Service, as part of the Farm Business Survey, or from the Soil Association Exchange. Ask them for a copy – it’s your farm data after all and you will need this in case of inspection later.

We think there are many good reasons why you might want to do a carbon footprint but lets look first at what the benefits are as set out in the Whole Farm Plan.

What is the Whole Farm Plan?

Carbon Audits are part of Whole Farm Plan (WFP) guidance. Most farmers in Scotland are by now familiar with the WFP. It is designed encourage a comprehensive view of your farm or croft which should allow you to assess current performance, identify growth opportunities, and align practices with Scotland’s climate and nature goals.

Looking towards 15 May 2028, farmers seeking to claim Basic Payment Scheme payments will be required to implement the following key activities and plans:

  1. Animal Health and Welfare Plan – reviewed annually
  2. Biodiversity Audit – reviewed every 5 years
  3. Carbon Audit – reviewed every 5 years
  4. Integrated Pest Management Plan – reviewed annually
  5. Soil Sampling of Region 1 land – every sampled field reviewed once every 5 years.

By 15 May 2025 all farms and crofts would need to have completed 2 out of the 5 audits. For all farms, one of these must be a carbon audit. We are working to ensure your carbon audit is one of the easier tasks to complete. Check the eligibility criteria in the guidance carefully to ensure you only complete audits which are required for you, and bear in mind the guidance can change. Read more

What the Rural Payments and Services webpage looks like.

At the time of this article in March 2025 we understand that the audits required for 2026 (presumed to be required by 15 May 2026) will be made known in summer 2025 and announced as part of the Agricultural Reform Programme route map to give you time to prepare. We will revise this information as we learn more.

What we know so far is that by 2028 at the latest, all businesses will need to have all plans and audits that are applicable to their business in place.

There is lots here to take in in the above, especially if you have not undertaken any of the above activities yet. We are here to help so make sure you ask us questions if you have any.

Shows upcoming actions and milestones as part of the Carbon Audit requirements of the Whole Farm Plan

Useful links – Whole Farm Plan

Whole Farm Plan guidance can change, or be amended in the annexes and ‘guidance updates’. We recommend you also read and become familiar with the available guidance at the following links:

Find a leading free tool to help

We know navigating these requirements can be challenging, but that’s where our team steps in. The Farm Carbon Calculator is free for farmers and we’re here to provide dedicated support to farmers and crofters whilst you complete your report. You can therefore get started with the tool yourself – and take control of this part of the process. 

The benefits of a carbon footprint

If you have read this far, it is likely that you already want to get to grips with a carbon footprint on your farm. However, we understand it can be frustrating to spend more time at the computer. Here are the benefits we have hear from farmers using our tool over the past 15 years – 

You will start to benefit as soon as you begin working with our tool. The calculator is used for all sorts of reasons:

  • Boost your interest in carbon – people want to understand greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how they might be reduced. Combining 10 hectares once for example produces emissions of: 0.52 tCO2e, and this kind of information is readily available to you whilst you work on your report
  • Gain a unique view of your farm – often a fresh look at any business is a valuable exercise but you can also potentially make even more informed decisions
  • Create a baseline now for the future – it is likely that the earlier you footprint, the better prepared you will be for any future changes to guidance or otherwise
  • Be part of a positive narrative – more and more people are getting involved, and you can too. We think agriculture is ahead of the curve here.
  • Improve your business resilience – you may pinpoint cost-saving opportunities through resource efficiency
  • Someone asked you to – for example Meeting Carbon Audit standards as we have set out above. The Calculator is designed to be a problem solver!
Shows what information would usually be needed to carbon footprint a farm under the Whole Farm Plan Carbon Audit scheme on a croft.

Funding and support available

You will receive great advice from the Farm Advisory Service on their website, via email advice@fas.scot or telephone 0300 323 0161 to support your journey.

But you may also want assistance with the carbon audit particularly if your farm is complex, you don’t have time, or you just want someone to take care of it for you. 

There are a number of farm advisors we also support in Scotland who can help guide you through your footprint, or offer you recommendations based on your carbon audit. Check with us, or ask that your advisor uses The Farm Carbon Calculator and check their fees and the total cost to you. Email calculator@farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk to check.

If they are not sure about what tool might work best, put them in touch with us so we can offer them support. We have a range of plans available for farm consultants to use our software and give you great footprints at a low cost.

In order to receive funding for support it is usually a requirement that the advisors you contract should be Farm Business Advisory Service Scotland (FBAASS) accredited – so why not search the list available on the LANTRA website to find one near you: see list.

Receive funding for your Carbon Audit – Preparing for Sustainable Farming

We are pleased to see that funding is again available to help you under the Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) programme as of February 2025. Previously it was understood that funding would be closed at this point to new applicants. 

Funding in this programme is expected to close in February 2026 and you will be able to claim for footprints completed in the 2025 calendar year. If you can claim, don’t delay in doing so. Read more

Check carefully the eligibility criteria for this funding which we have simplified slightly here:

  • £500 is available to fund eligible Carbon Audits
  • A new carbon audit can be funded every 3 years – which sits within the 5 years required for the whole farm plan
  • If you have a carbon audit but it is not of the required standard, or your farm has changed materially you should be able to make a new claim
  • Carbon audits can be claimed for that were completed in the 2025 calendar year. With claims being made by February 2026
  • When you use the Farm Carbon Calculator – either yourself, or you have a consultant prepare your audit – this should be reviewed by an FBAASS advisor and they should  give you recommendations to accompany your report that will help you reduce emissions.
  • If other funding becomes available you should not double claim.

Get started – checklist

Your Carbon Audit doesn’t have to be overwhelming use this checklist to help guide your decisions prior to getting started.

  • Get familiar with the Whole Farm Plan > read guidance
  • Check which audits are required, and by what dates > check up to date guidance. Carbon Audits are for all farms, but there may be others you would like to tackle first.
  • Check if you already have a valid Carbon Audit > if yes, you can stop here. 
  • See if you can receive funding > check eligibility
  • Decide if you want to complete the Carbon Audit yourself, or pay for help > why not create an account and login to check. You may be able to receive funded and paid for assistance either way.
  • Complete the Carbon Audit
    • Complete your own Carbon Audit > the rest of this guide will help
      • you can still send this to an advisor for recommendations 
    • Find an advisor who can help > Contact us or use LANTRA’s list.
      • check they use The Farm Carbon Calculator
      • check the cost to you.
  • Keep a copy of your Carbon Audit on file, or in our system. Should SGRPID inspect your audits you may need this to hand.
  • Ask, what next? Completing your Carbon Audit frees you up to look at other audits, but also may allow you to undertake funded soil analysis. 
    • Soil Analysis is a requirement on Region 1 farmland, and should include carbon. These results can be inputted into your report to make your footprint even more accurate. Read the WFP guidance on Soil Analysis, the PSF guidance around funding, and our very own Monitoring Soil Carbon guide too.

General suggestions

  • Most guidance suggests you should use the same carbon footprinting tool over time for consistent tracking. We’d agree – though don’t forget you can replicate, or complete a previous year in any calculator. Talk to us if you need help with this
  • Whichever tool you use, keep a good record of changes made based on your report
  • At the very least, keep a copy of your report for your records, as it is your hard work, and your data. Your Farm Carbon Calculator dashboard is a great place to keep your reports secure over time
  • Once you have a carbon audit look for or ask an advisor for actionable recommendations. You might like to start on our Farm Carbon Toolkit – a great place for guidance and case studies!
Michael Brown, Customer Service Officer at Farm Carbon Toolkit

Any questions? We’re here to help, contact Michael Brown, Customer Service Officer

Contact

Cornish farm cuts artificial fertiliser use by 60%

Posted on March 17, 2025 by - Uncategorized

At Tregooden Farm in Cornwall, farmers Malcolm and Catherine Barrett are pioneering ways to take their farm to net zero carbon and beyond. With a 150 strong beef herd on 300 acres, the couple have transformed the way they farm by focussing on soil health, biodiversity and animal health.

Catherine and Malcolm Barrett

On this Duchy of Conrwall farm, the livestock graze on the pastures, but are also fed on maize. The maize is being farmed in a very different way to how they used to work in an intensive dairy system. Across the farm, the huge drop in artifical fertiliser use (by 60% over 4 years) has had significant cost and carbon benefits. Malcolm said:

 “We went quicker than we might have done, but it seems to have worked. No yield deficits are showing yet! I want to move to a point where we’re not applying artificial fertiliser, relying on biological foliar feeds.” 

By adding green waste compost and manure at rates of just a few tonnes per acre, they concentrate on feeding the soil biology to stimulate improved soil health and carbon sequestration. As Malcolm says “We’re farming livestock both above ground and below”.

Maize growing at Tregooden under the low fertiliser approach

Fuel use has fallen to just nine litres per hectare, due to the cultivations changing to a system based on discing and a direct drill. “We used to beat the living daylight out the soil – there’s no need to do that now” says Malcolm. In addition, he realises the changes are spreading through the community: “Our son is 20 and works for a local contractor. Last spring he asked  – ‘why do they work the fields so much?’ It was a lightbulb moment!”

Grazing has changed substantially by grazing more instensively over shorter periods. There are 80 acres of green manures including Westerwolds, rape, stubble turnips, black oats, crimson clover, winter vetch, beans, designed by FCT’s Hannah Jones.

Green manure mix on the farm

Biodiveristy is improving below ground, with good dung beetle and earthworm activity obvious, and soil sampling showing that Soil Organic Matter is rising across the farm – which means carbon is being sequestered. Above ground tree planting, hedge management, wetlands and improved pastures have led to noticeable improvements in bird and insect populations.

Wetland, and mature trees – great for biodiversity and sequestering carbon.

The Barretts are enjoying showing people around the farm, and are invlovled with Farm Net Zero, Innovative Farmers and the Duchy of Cornwall. They want to inspire change in others – farmers, agronomists, community, researchers and more.

Looking forward, Malcolm said “I’m excited about the future, we’re working with soil and nature again.”

It’s clear this farm is a really embracing the change towards net zero, and coming up with an innovative approach to farming. The farm and farmers are demonstrating tangible environmental and social improvements, an inspiration to others.

See more

Watch a video by Catherine of the farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-2mdhnqZE

Read the full case study here on FCT’s website https://farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk/toolkit/case-studies/

Farm Carbon Toolkit teams up with LiveTrace

Posted on March 20, 2024 by - Uncategorized

Integration with Livetrace will allow automated carbon footprinting of the potato sector.

Farm Carbon Toolkit is delighted to announce the development of an integration between LiveTrace and the Farm Carbon Calculator softwares, underpinned by our longstanding collaboration with Mercian Ltd, the UK’s largest supplier of Crisping Potatoes. 

Farm Carbon Toolkit is using its years of experience in Carbon footprinting to support carbon calculations on LiveTrace’s existing platform, bringing additional insights to the crisping potato supply chain and building on the joined-up approach LiveTrace provides for the industry.

Photo:  Kai Oberhäuser, Unsplash

Farm Carbon Toolkit’s Calculator Development Manager Dr. Lizzy Parker explains the motivation behind the collaboration.

“For over a decade, the Farm Carbon Calculator has supported farmers to understand their business through a carbon lens. Farmers are all at different stages on their carbon journey, but we believe an important first step is to get farmers thinking about the options they have to reduce emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere. By working with LiveTrace to bring insight to farmers who are already collecting the bulk of the data they need to calculate their carbon footprint, we can support a significant proportion of the industry to understand its role in reducing emissions“

We have worked closely with Mercian Ltd to improve our calculator for one of the most important agricultural sectors in the UK. We’re now excited to see how a more seamless user experience will support more farmers and their customers to engage with action to reduce emissions.”

“As the largest supplier of crisping potatoes in the UK we felt the time was right to take the initiative” explains Jon Kemp, Director of Livetrace. “The input we received from Farm Carbon Toolkit has been both professional and very much inspirational for us. This has led to a joint approach that is building our understanding of the carbon intensity within the crisping potato supply chain. We have leveraged the data which is already being collected by the LiveTrace software as part of the everyday farming activities, together with FCT’s expertise to understand the carbon impact and guide farmers to more sustainable practices. 

We are truly hoping that technology such as this will help the UK potato industry play its part in the positive changes which are taking place across agriculture. “

About the Farm Carbon Toolkit 

Farm Carbon Toolkit is an independent, farmer-led Community Interest Company, supporting farmers to measure, understand and act on their greenhouse gas emissions, while improving their business resilience for the future.

For over a decade, Farm Carbon Toolkit has delivered a range of practical projects, tools and services that have inspired real action on the ground. Organisations they work with include Velcourt, the Duchy of Cornwall, First Milk, Tesco and WWF. The Farm Carbon Calculator is a leading on-farm carbon audit tool, used by over 7,000 farmers in the UK and beyond. To find out more visit www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk 

We created one of the first tools (Farm Carbon Calculator) to audit GHG emissions on farm in 2011 and were one of the first to include carbon removals as well as emissions within our audit.

For further information or to start your first carbon footprint visit calculator.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk 

The Financial Reward of Reducing Carbon

Posted on February 13, 2024 by - Insights, News, Uncategorized

By Robert Purdew, Farm Carbon and Soils Advisor

There is a growing concern about carbon “tunnel vision” in agriculture, where the sole focus is on reducing emissions without considering the bigger picture. Reducing emissions is crucial, yet it’s important to acknowledge that it is only one piece of the puzzle and focusing solely on carbon can neglect factors such as soil health, water quality, biodiversity and other issues such as pollution. There is also often concern from farmers about how the pressures to achieve net zero targets can impact profitability, especially when incentives to be net zero are limited or non-existent, and investments in the infrastructure and technology required to transition to low-carbon farming are high.

But this doesn’t have to be the case. We can use an understanding of a farm’s emissions to make informed decisions to change management practices that can lead directly to both reduced emissions and increased profitability, and we can point to an increased number of farmers who are doing just this.

Mike and Sam Roberts farm 435 acres at Blable Farm, of which a large proportion is down to herbal leys. After Sam returned to the farm in 2018 a decision was made to review the whole operation and, in conjunction with James Daniel of Precision Grazing, the decision was made to reduce the herd slightly from 180 to 150 cows, implement rotational grazing on diverse leys and to focus on reducing inputs and improving soil health.

Cattle out wintering at Blable Farm

The effects were immediate and obvious. Soil health has seen a rapid improvement with better structure, increased earthworm numbers and soil organic matter is on the rise. The grazing period has been increased from 6 to 12 months and the farm hasn’t bought fertiliser since 2021, with none being used last year. Importantly, animal performance has increased in line with improved soil health and while cow numbers were reduced initially Mike and Sam are looking at increasing numbers again. All of this has seen a significant saving on input costs which has been re-invested into the business, including a full soil audit to better understand how soil health is improving. In line with reduced costs on-farm emissions have been reduced significantly with Mike confident the farm can reach net zero within 5 years, a commitment made as part of being a demo farm for the Farm Net Zero project.

Another example of a farmer using an understanding of their carbon footprint to drive down costs and improve profitability is Tom Burge of Oaremead Farm. Tom farms 760 acres of grassland on Exmoor and runs both a suckler herd and commercial sheep flock. In 2017 Tom began shifting to a more regenerative farming system which predominantly focussed on an improvement in grazing management, once again aided by James Daniel from Precision Grazing.

A person standing in a grassy field with cows Description automatically generated

Over 5 years, Tom has completely cut out the use of artificial fertiliser and reduced his feed use by over 70%. This has been made possible by an increase in dry matter grown of 0.9 tDM/ha, through improved grazing management, and has reduced input costs by 50%, with a similar reduction in emissions from inputs, as shown in the chart below. Crucially the farm is now profitable before taking into account income from subsidies and environmental schemes. In the next 5 years, Tom plans to completely cut out bought-in feed and to have halved fuel use and, like Mike and Sam, be well on the road to net zero while remaining highly productive and profitable.

Oaremead Farm emissions from inputs

These are just two of an increasing number of examples that we are coming across as we work with more and more farmers who are using their carbon emissions as just one metric to help improve their farm businesses. And far from impacting just a farm’s emissions and bottom line, the management changes that are being implemented are having beneficial impacts on those ecosystem services mentioned previously, soil health, biodiversity, water quality and reduced pollution. Proof if ever it was needed of the potential for long-term sustainability within our farming systems.

FNZ Agronomists’ Workshop – 28th November 2023

Posted on December 14, 2023 by - Farm Net Zero, Uncategorized

This event was designed for agronomists to learn about the results of some of the Farm Net Zero (FNZ) trials. Dr. Hannah Jones of the Farm Carbon Toolkit was joined by the farmers who hosted and designed the trials to discuss the findings. This event was made possible with thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund who fund the Farm Net Zero project.

Throughout the discussions, the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) payments were referred to as a potential method of reducing the risk of adopting the practices trialled by the Farm Net Zero demo and monitor farms. This report will summarise the trials presented and the discussions that followed, including the views of the agronomists present at the workshop.

Outwintering on Cover Crops

Cover crops can be useful for protecting soil by reducing erosion and nutrient leaching and preserving soil carbon stocks. In Cornwall’s mixed farming systems, cover crops can provide an opportunity for outwintering livestock in a cost-effective manner. Therefore, it is pertinent to think about the plant species included in a cover crop mix and balance up their soil health benefits with the potential feed value.

A Farm Net Zero trial was set up in winter 2021-2022, where five cover crop mixes of varying complexity were grazed by beef youngstock. Full details of the trial can be found on the Farm Net Zero Project Resources page here. The most diverse mix had the biggest improvement in soil quality, reducing compaction and attracting the most earthworms. In terms of feed value, any mixes containing black oats were the most popular with the cattle and had high dry matter, crude protein and sugars.

It was suggested that the SFI SAM2 “Multi-species winter cover” payment of £129/hectare could be used to support this practice.

Maize Establishment

FNZ Monitor Farmers, Malcolm and Catherine Barrett, have trialled different methods of establishing maize crops. In spring 2022, two fields were taken and divided into thirds – one where maize was established conventionally (plough, power harrow, drill), one cultivated with a Sumo machine, and one direct drilled with a Mzuri drill. The direct drill had the lowest fuel requirement and therefore cost. Cob weight assessments found that cobs were smallest in the ploughed area and highest where the crop was established after the cultivator. Soil sampling showed that organic matter levels dropped following ploughing, with worm numbers also reduced.

One further area of interest developed when Malcolm and Catherine noticed that the sprayed-out clover regrew in the direct drilled area. This could potentially provide nitrogen for any following crops, and so a trial was designed for the barley drilled after maize harvest. In this trial, part of the field had no nitrogen applied in order to observe any influences of the clover. Quadrat yield assessments found no significant difference between the full nitrogen fertiliser regime and the no nitrogen area and further analysis of grain nitrogen found that both the full rate and zero nitrogen well exceeded the recommended level for feed barley. This prompted discussions on the opportunities for reducing nitrogen fertiliser (and therefore reducing carbon emissions), with most of the agronomists present agreeing that this is achievable, particularly on mixed farms where livestock contribute to healthy soil. One suggestion from the group was that where soil is in good condition, nitrogen could be applied as a foliar feed direct to the plant because the healthy soil is providing good support for the plant roots.

Soil Rejuvenation after Potatoes

On FNZ Demo Farm, Ennis Barton, some ground is let for vegetable production, when this comes back in hand Andrew Brewer wants to find the fastest method of restoring soil health and returning the fields to cattle grazing. In one of the potato fields, a variety of cover crops (eligible for SAM2) were undersown with ryegrass, clovers and plantain, these were then grazed over winter. Soil quality assessments found that mixes containing Westerwolds ryegrass had the most positive effect on soil aggregate stability. However, in the following summer the Westerwolds rapidly went to seed, which made managing grazing quality a challenge. Therefore, the next best cover mix was forage rape or rye and vetch. This is another example of considering the trade-offs of mixed farming when designing systems that optimise soil quality.

Inter-Crops for Cabbages

Some of the ground rented out at Ennis Barton is used for Savoy cabbages. Following a Farm Net Zero meeting looking at managing these “risky crops”, Andrew and the cabbage growers were keen to develop methods of reducing soil erosion between the cabbage rows. A trial was designed where a mix of low-growing, deep-rooted species (chicory, plantain, white clover and buckwheat) were intersown between the cabbage rows at the beginning of October after all cabbage hoeing was completed. This trial is still being monitored, but there are hopes that intercropping will protect soil from erosion, provide feed for livestock and also reduce the amount of disease/damage to the cabbage leaf from “soil bounce” after rain. Again, this could be eligible for the SAM2 SFI payment.

Grazing Winter Cereals

Grazing winter cereals was a common practice to manage plant disease, growth rates, fertility and livestock wintering. FNZ Monitor Farmer, Anthony Ellis, tried a return to this practice on his family arable and sheep farm during winter 2022-2023. Part of a field of winter wheat was grazed with ewe lambs, with the wheat grazed right into the ground. This allowed Anthony to reduce growth regulators and fungicide and slightly reduce the nitrogen applications compared to the ungrazed remainder of the field. Septoria was reduced early in the season, but there was less difference closer to harvest as the grazed wheat caught up with the ungrazed. Some discussion followed concerning how although this is an old practice, it is now possible to put some firmer figures on the carbon savings of reduced inputs from grazing cereals.

Conclusion

Overall, this workshop for agronomists provided an excellent opportunity to share some of the project’s results so far, and to learn from agronomists who work across the project region and further afield. The ability to work collaboratively with the wider agricultural community is very valuable and helps to ensure the Farm Net Zero project reflects as many farming systems as possible.

Cotswold Seeds courses at FarmED 2023

Posted on June 6, 2023 by - Uncategorized

Image taken from Cotswold Seeds website.

Summer/Autumn 2023

The FarmED Programme for 2023 includes a wide range of courses, workshops and events that inspire, educate and connect people to build sustainable farming and food systems that nourish people and regenerate the planet. All take place in their beautiful eco buildings at the heart of their demonstration farm in the Evenlode Valley. Delicious and nutritious refreshments are freshly prepared in the FarmED kitchen.

*Further events will be added to the programme throughout the year. 

Herbal Ley Establishment & Management – June 13th

Join for a one day course on Herbal Leys Establishment and Management brought to you by the FarmED team and Cotswolds Seeds. A herbal ley is a complex seed mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs, which bring a range of benefits to forage, livestock health and soil fertility. Herbal leys can often include a mixture of up to 17 species, and can be incorporated into arable, livestock or horticultural operations with multiple benefits including building soil fertility and improving water resilience, to fostering better animal health and boosting biodiversity. Herbal leys are a traditional low-input method of farming that provides benefits to arable, livestock and horticultural operations alike.

Pollinators & Predators – July 3rd

How can we encourage pollinators and natural predators in order to reduce pests and increase production? Understand the role of these insects and learn ways to manage and maintain habitats for these unsung heroes.

Animals Into Arable Rotations – July 4th 

Are you thinking of introducing livestock back into your arable rotation? Join FarmED as
they explore the options and find practical solutions.

Sainfoin & Lucerne Field Day – July 5th 

Join the Cotswold Seeds team to learn about Sainfoin and Lucerne and how they
can benefit your farm

Wildflower Meadows & Margins – July 18th 

As well as looking appealing, wildflowers also have huge biodiversity and environmental benefits. Find out how to select and establish the seed mixtures that best suit your land.

Sort Out Your Soil – August 2nd 

We are joined by Anton Rosenfield from Garden Organic, and the Cotswold Seeds
team to show how green manures and cover crops can boost the fertility of your soil.

Self-Sufficient Leys Field Day – August 15th 

Learn how to use forage legumes to reduce reliance on nitrogen fertiliser.

Equine Grassland Management – September 12th 

Enhance you pasture management and increase species diversity to improve horse health and extend the grazing season.

Please book through  www.farm-ed.co.uk

Sign-up for their newsletter to keep up to date with what’s on at FarmED
Follow them @RealFarmED

Cotswold Seeds kindly sponsors our Soil Farmer of the Year Competition.

Herbal Leys and Grassland Diversity

Posted on May 16, 2023 by - Uncategorized

Written by Hannah Jones, a Farm Carbon and Soils Advisor here at FCT.

The farm environment is a complex for a plant.

Success of a sowing is controlled by an interaction between management, soil type, weather, pest and disease pressures as well as a legacy of weed burden. There is a plant for almost every environment on farm that can be used for successful production whether grazing, combining or for providing environmental benefits.

On grasslands with optimal pH, mineral indices and in a mythical situation of cheap inputs, ryegrass is ideal. If the farm environment becomes more challenging more plant species are needed to optimise that sward productivity.

White clover is a stalwart for improving crude protein content of a ration and increasing soil nitrogen supply but in dry free draining soils lucerne, and sainfoin may have much to offer. In a cutting ley, red clover and alsike clover have their merits, and if the ley is to be down for longer than 2-3 years birdsfoot trefoil is of value, particularly if sheep are involved.

Herbs added to the mix can support good mineral balance, improve weed suppressiveness, complementary anthelmintics to pharmaceutical wormers, and improve soil health. Chicory and plantain are common, but yarrow is good to include too for its drought tolerance and support of herd health. In open swards consider self heal, and in freer soils salad burnet.

Finally for those grasses, a diverse range of flowering times in the rye grass has value for grazing but not cutting. Tetraploid ryegrasses are impressive for silaging but longevity is surpassed by timothy grass. Cocksfoot has value in drier, more challenging environments, but careful management is essential to avoid clumpiness. Some of the fine fescues can support a denser canopy closer to the soil, particularly relevant for sheep grazing.

Plant diversity supports more resilient system, forage supply is better maintained under extreme conditions and the plant community in your fields will return from a climatic shock more rapidly.

Many farmers we have spoken to like herbal leys, why? Because they provide a more stable supply of forage, and the stock can get on the land earlier in the year and can graze for longer near the close of the year. This provides considerable savings in housing, and also reduces the need to buffer feed in periods of drought.

There is limited evidence across herbal leys, whether 3 species or 30 species that forage or silage quality is better or worse than rye grass and white clover. However, there is much anecdotal evidence that herd health is superior. Sheep seem to particular benefit from a diet of herbal leys.

These production efficiencies will improve your carbon footprint, but it is the effect of the diverse rooting systems of herbal leys that get us most excited. Herbal leys increase soil organic matter in excess of what is achievable with a ryegrass and white clover ley particular at sampling depths of 10-30cm. This additional carbon sequestration will again benefit your carbon footprint.

Finally, maintaining species diversity in herbal leys requires a paddock-style grazing system but I think that is for another day…