Tag: farming

The power of perennials

Posted on October 8, 2025 by - Insights

Apples

By Jonathan Smith, FCT’s Impact Manager

As I was harvesting apples this weekend in an orchard that’s 15 years old, I was marvelling at how apples, and more widely perennial crops, produce food for us with really minimal input.

A sackful of high quality Pinova apples

In this particular orchard, the management I do is mowing or strimming four times a year, pruning trees in winter, hedge cutting in winter…and that’s more or less it. This orchard is planted on Grade 4 land with soil that is light, shallow and with a slight Northerly aspect. It has produced 2/3 of a tonne of apples over 2/3 of an acre this year. Whilst it’s a good year for apples, this orchard consistently produces good amounts of fruit. 

The spread of over 25 varieties means any particular variety that crops poorly one year doesn’t impact overall yields too much. Within this, all the varieties are selected for disease resistance (particularly to canker and scab), as well as taste, vigour and genetic diversity, 

Much of the fruit will go for juicing, or cider, but much of it is very high quality eaters and cookers that can be stored for months. It is amazing what you can produce on a small area with very little input from humans.

A functioning ecosystem

Orchards are perhaps our best example of agroforestry at work. Existing for hundreds, maybe thousands of years they embody the intercrop between fruit, pasture, livestock and a wide range of biodiversity. Traditional orchards are some of the most biodiverse places in the farmed landscape. Even in more intensive orchards they can be managed for wildlife and carbon sequestration alongside fruit production.

Birdsfoot trefoil is one of the species thriving in this orchard, providing forage for bees

In this particular orchard, and other small orchards on my farm, the land supports lots of butterflies, bees, birds and a wide variety of flora. No chemicals are used and there are actually no fertility inputs. The only machinery used is a mower and a strimmer. There are actually no fossil fuel inputs to the entire system – the machines are electric and we even transport the apples using an electric vehicle! Is this actually the future?

An electric strimmer, one of the few tools used in the orchard

I appreciate this isn’t a fully commercial operation and that in a commercial orchard there needs to be a focus on yields, quality, storage, processing, etc. However in some ways it encapsulates the debate on extensive versus intensive. Extensive growing systems mean low inputs, high biodiversity and moderate production levels. There is a whole debate to be had too around the nutritional quality v quantity of crops. 

In addition to low emissions from any machinery or inputs, perennial crops (encompassing many fruits and nuts) also sequester carbon in both the soil and trees. Furthermore, a lack of cultivation means soil organic matter isn’t being oxidised, furthering the potential for carbon sequestration in soils. This is not so far away from a natural ecosystem, which inherently are large carbon sinks. 

Agroforestry systems

Traditional top fruit orchards, often with livestock grazing underneath, are timeless examples of a farming system that produces fruit for eating, drinking, and feeding to livestock, as well as seasonal grazing. What hasn’t been grown more widely across the UK are nut groves, such as cobnuts, walnuts and sweet chestnuts. These bring the opportunity to bring protein into our diets as well, but it also requires something of a cultural shift to have more edible nuts in our diets.

The argument I would make is that we can successfully move away from simply fields of grass into agroforestry systems with relative ease, and that livestock and trees are perfectly compatible given the right planning. There are new skills to learn, equipment to buy and markets to access, but these are achievable. In return it would bring a fundamental shift in our landscapes with more carbon being sequestered, shade being provided, diversification of farm produce, and habitat being created.

Cereals grown as alley crops between hazel at Wakelyns Agforestry in Suffolk

However there is also an opportunity to integrate vegetables, other fruits and even arable into agroforestry systems – as has been successfully done at places like Wakelyns Agroforestry in Suffolk. The common thread here is that trees have enormous benefits in agricultural systems and really require very little input from us relative to the benefits that they can bring in terms of diversity of crops, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water storage and landscape benefits.

Because these systems don’t require much, if any, cultivation, require few inputs, they bring a sort of stability to the land in a way that annual crops don’t. More perennials are something that previous generations would have seen as normal, and their reduced presence in our landscape is a relatively recent thing. Here’s me hoping for the return of perennials in our farming systems which bring real benefits to us all, and for generations to come.

Why Care About Carbon?

Posted on October 1, 2025 by - Insights

By Katie Shaw and Jonathan Smith

Actions that cut carbon emissions  often reduce costs – fuels and artificial fertilisers being the obvious examples. But on the other side of the equation, improving soil health – for instance by reducing cultivations and building soil organic matter, also results in more carbon being sequestered in farm soils. When soil organic matter increases, so does crop health, biodiversity, water holding capacity, resilience to floods and droughts, and in some cases water management for the wider landscape. There are multiple benefits, with carbon reductions being perhaps a secondary benefit to a range of improved business resilience measures.

Here are nine reasons why farmers and growers should care—and why it’s central to building resilient, profitable and sustainable businesses.

1. Economic benefits

Reducing farm emissions is often good for the bank balance. High-carbon inputs like fuel and fertiliser usually carry a high cost; by cutting emissions, you can often cut costs too. Caring about carbon can also create new business opportunities, with sustainability incentives from governments and organisations becoming increasingly common.

2. Improve soil health

Practices that build soil carbon improve soil health. Soil carbon fuels beneficial microbes that supply crops with essential nutrients. Healthier soils support higher yields with the same (or fewer) inputs, making land more productive and profitable. Strong soil health also safeguards fertility for future generations.

3. Highlight inefficiencies on farm

Our free Farm Carbon Calculator is a powerful management tool, helping farmers and growers to undertake a ‘carbon audit’ and identify wasteful (and costly) activities. High-emission items usually have a high price tag; tackling inefficiencies improves both your finances and your farm’s carbon footprint. 

4. Improve farm resilience

The climate crisis drives many of the challenges farmers face today. Carbon-smart practices can help farms adapt to:

  • Local climate impacts (droughts, floods, heatwaves and other extreme events)
  • Input price fluctuations
  • Policy changes
  • Shifting markets. 

5. Producers as part of the solution

Agriculture produces much of the world’s methane and nitrous oxide, but it can also be a major part of the solution. Farmers and growers can reduce their own emissions and even absorb carbon from the atmosphere — supporting global climate action while ensuring the long-term sustainability of their farms. 

6. Help your country meet climate commitments

The UK, for example, is legally committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Landowners and businesses will increasingly need to show evidence of action. Starting carbon audits now can put you ahead of future regulations that require monitoring and reduction. 

7. Support supply chain commitments

Food businesses are under pressure to decarbonise, and supply chains are favouring low-carbon products. Some merchants, co-ops and buyers may even offer incentives for farms that measure and cut emissions. Farmers and growers who can demonstrate progress may secure stronger market demand and opportunities. 

8. Engage positively with the public

Carbon is measurable — a clear way to show change over time. This helps build a positive narrative and public trust in farming. With customers increasingly interested in the footprint of their food, farmers and growers have a chance to share how agriculture is working to reduce impacts. 

9. Support biodiversity

Farms are uniquely placed to promote biodiversity and create habitats for wildlife. Diverse ecosystems bring practical benefits like healthier soils, natural pest and disease control, pollination and greater climate resilience. They also connect people with nature, support wellbeing and provide beauty to be shared.

How We Can Help

At Farm Carbon Toolkit, we’ve been working on this for over 15 years. We can provide independent, practical support to help you start—or continue—your carbon journey.

Our free Farm Carbon Calculator is designed specifically for farmers and growers, and we run events, share guidance and offer advice to support action on the ground.

Wherever you are on the journey, we’re here to help. The important thing is to get started.

GET IN TOUCH: Email us at info@farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk

Find out more about Our Services

How to make better compost

Posted on September 25, 2025 by - Farm Net Zero

By Hannah Jones, FCT Senior Soil and Carbon Advisor

What is composting?

Let’s take a step back and consider composting. A process that can convert ‘waste’ organic materials, which may contain weed seeds and pathogens, into a highly valued resource for farmers, growers and gardeners. There is no universal strategy to handle compost, but we know that compost is good. Any handling, movement or change in conditions of the compost pile will influence what microbes are present.

Composting techniques

The means of compost waste handling needs to be designed based on what you want to achieve in addition to the time and resources available. There are multiple books available which provide details on the multiple composting techniques available. However, very simplistically bacterial-dominated compost is achieved with frequent turning of pile which generates a lot of heat from bacterial activity. A blend of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material provides the balance of relatively low carbon to nitrogen food sources for microbes.  This form of composting produces usable compost within months. 

However, if you wish to have a compost dominated by fungi, don’t turn it and use a higher amount of ‘brown’ fraction thus increasing the carbon to nitrogen ratio. Fungi can break down waste with less available nitrogen than bacteria, which is why wood-dominated waste left in a heap will break down even when there is no manure or higher nitrogen waste in it. The fungal hyphae need to stay intact and turning will destroy the mycelial network. 

A Johnson-Su bioreactor. Credit: www.regenxer.com

The Johnson-Su composting technique is a classic method for creating this type of compost. However, it should be noted that mycorrhizae fungi, which are the nutrient and water harvesting symbionts of a range of plant species, will only thrive when attached to a root. Composting will not increase mycorrhizae directly but non-disturbed soil, which is rich in organic matter, will favour them in the presence of a diverse range of plant species. 

Dealing with weeds and pathogens

Some organic waste material may contain persistent weeds and pathogens. Composting can be carried out to create a bacterial furnace that can easily reach temperatures of 60℃ or more. Frequent turning stimulates bacterial activity, and the heat-releasing degradation process warms the compost and effectively kills weeds and pathogens. 

When compost reaches 60C pathogens and weed seeds will be broken down

At Heligan Gardens in Cornwall, as part of the compost Innovative Farmers FieldLab with  Farm Net Zero project, waste streams can now be managed where no docks, oxalis, bind weed or vegetable diseases survive the composting process. Weekly turning of the compost piles over multiple months generated the heat to deal with pests and diseases. Careful turning is needed to make sure all compost gets heated in the middle of the pile over the composing process. Beneficial microbes  are then able to re-infest the cooling compost to create a stable product.

Compost bays at the Lost Garden of Heligan. Piles are turned weekly with new waste entering the stream on the right hand side.

Compost is commonly used as a soil conditioner, providing a water retentive mulch as well as a food source for soil microbes. The quality of lettuces was maintained for longer in the Heligan field lab trials during a period of drought.

Greenhouse gases from compost

Uncovered and turned compost can release considerable amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous gases. Bokashi composting, a technique not dissimilar to making silage, which uses lactic acid bacteria as an inoculum, can conserve 99% of carbon compared to just 25% in standard composting. Furthermore, in  the same experiment 93% of the nitrogen was retained compared to 38% of the control3. This compost is dominated by lactic acid bacteria as a consequence of the oxygen-free environment and so is a process for preserving nutrients rather than specifically aimed at multiplication of desirable organisms. Application of bokashi to the soil will supply the nutrients, but the influx of more non-harmful bacteria can stimulate the soil food web as the lactic-acid producing species are consumed.

Bokashi composting system. Credit: www.agritron.co.uk

Experts of soil microbes advise inoculating seed with your desirable microbes rather than the soil. Based on the 10 billion/gram estimate in one gram of soil, the seed surface is relatively free of competition for your inoculant. Therefore, your inoculum may be one of the first to colonise an emerging root and from then on multiply. 

Use compost to condition your soil

Recent findings from the Compost FieldLab at Prideaux Gardens has found a significant reduction in bindweed infestation with a combination of compost, the use of a broadfork (to ease surface compaction) and cover crops. The control also contained cover crops but no soil conditioning. Charles Walters4 highlights bindweed thrives where soil structure is poor and organic matter breakdown retarded. Thus double digging is not as desirable as plentiful compost mulching to feed soil shifters such as the earthworm community.

Trial lay out at Prideaux with deep compost over broadforked soil to improve soil conditions. There was some mild surface compaction.

It is important to recognise that major shifts in soil biology are unlikely to take place purely from compost addition. It is now well established that soil microbiology is driven by living plant diversity. Management can also have positive or catastrophic effects on soil diversity particularly if multiple ‘stresses’ take place at the same time such as drought and salinisation 1. However, the incorporation of composting into your overall soil management can have major benefits for soil nutrients, structure and carbon storage.

In summary, handle your waste organic material as a valuable resource. Determine what you want from it, but at the same time make sure you manage the compost to control weed seeds and pathogens. Your compost is unique to your farm, your soil and your waste. 

FCT offers advice

FCT works with farmers and growers on a daily basis, helping them to farm better by looking after their soils, build resilience, manage carbon and increase productivity. For more on what we do, and how we could help you, please see our Services page. We look forward to working with you!

References

1 Rodríguez del Río, Á., Scheu, S. & Rillig, M.C. Soil microbial responses to multiple global change factors as assessed by metagenomics. Nat Commun 16, 5058 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60390-4

2 Torsvik, V. and Øvreås, L., 2002. Microbial diversity and function in soil: from genes to ecosystems. Current opinion in microbiology, 5(3), pp.240-245. 

3 Chavez-Rico, V.S., Bodelier, P.L., van Eekert, M., Sechi, V., Veeken, A. and Buisman, C., 2022. Producing organic amendments: Physicochemical changes in biowaste used in anaerobic digestion, composting, and fermentation. Waste Management, 149, pp.177-185.

4 Walters, C (1991) Weeds control without poisons Publishers: Acres UK

Animals and Trees in the Farming Landscape

Posted on July 25, 2025 by - Case Studies

By Joe Jones, FCT Farm Carbon and Soils Assistant

For many, views of animals grazing under large trees invokes the image of a slower pace associated with older farming periods. Whilst few would dispute the beauty of this, modern agriculture has largely forgotten the utility of trees in farming systems, often seeing them purely as a refuge for wildlife and a nuisance to farming activities . But the work of Dr Lindsay Whistance, Senior Livestock Researcher at the Organic Researcher Centre, is seeking to provide farmers with evidence of how valuable trees are in both environmental and economic terms. Trees can support greater animal welfare and more resilient farm enterprises overall. In this case study, we look at some of Dr Whistance’s research, which examines some of the ways trees positively contribute to livestock farming systems.

Trees on Farms through the Ages

In the past, trees in both hedgerows and fields were much more integrated features of the British farming landscape. Farm trees, hedgerows and woodland were managed carefully to produce a variety of resources. These included raw materials for many household items and crafts, timber for buildings, fuel, as well as fodder and shelter for farm animals.

As the value of wood declined, alongside the adoption of more mechanised and larger scale agriculture, the use for trees on farms diminished. Consequently, many farmland hedgerows and trees were removed in the last century to increase  efficiency and productivity. The decline of trees in the farming landscape meant many benefits were lost, some which were noted and others which are only becoming more apparent now.

The Benefits Triage

Trying to understand and put meaningful data behind what these benefits might be has been a key component of Dr Whistance’s research. She has helped identify several key areas, both directly and indirectly, where trees positively contribute to livestock welfare and has provided a strong case for their inclusion in farming systems.

1. Shelter – buffering the extremes

One of the key challenges farmers face now is the increasing extremes of climatic events. Extreme heat, cold, wind and rain are all challenges to livestock who cannot access places to take refuge. Animals maintain a ‘thermal comfort zone’ where bodily processes are regulated. When temperatures move beyond this zone, the animal begins to experience stress which leads to a greater susceptibility for illness or death.

In hot environments, where animals’ body temperature exceeds the higher critical temperature (HCT), animal food intake decreases in an attempt to reduce heat load. An example of this is in dairy cows, where heat stress leads to a negative energy balance, increases metabolic disorders, and decreases milk production. FCT’s Jemma Morgan explores this issue in her recent blog.

In cold temperatures, animals need to increase their food intake every 1°C that drops below the lower critical temperature (LTC). This puts pressure on food availability.

Dr Whistance provides evidence that trees can help solve these issues. In high temperatures trees canopies help break any solar radiation and capture and store more moisture, leading to a cooling effect. This provides valuable refuge to animals seeking an escape from the heat. In challenging cold conditions, trees help to capture and store warm air underneath their branches, which can sometimes be as much as 6°c warmer than surrounding temperature.

Sheltered refuge is especially valuable during lambing, as newborn lambs must stay warm and dry in their first few hours of life. Without adequate shelter, they risk hypothermia before they can take in vital colostrum, gain energy, and begin to regulate their own body temperature. There are benefits during cold periods too, where grasses grow earlier in the season due to the warm pockets of air. During dry periods, grasses remain green due to the moisture and shade which trees provide. Dr Whistance’s work has also highlighted the benefits of trees in mitigating wind and its influence on ambient temperature.

More farmers are recognising and starting to implement agroforestry to support profitable farming, such as at Longmoor Farm in Dorset.

2- Tree fodder

Trace elements (TE) and plant secondary metabolic (PSM) products form an important part of a herbivore’s diet which directly influence an animals health. Traditionally, tree fodder was a key component of farm animals diet and would provide both of these elements. As access to trees and shrubs has become more restricted in modern day agriculture, these mineral elements have had to be provided through bought in supplements instead.

In one of their studies, Dr Whistance and her team examined mineral content of tree species and found that trees such as willow can provide an important source of cobalt and zinc, particularly valuable for weaned lambs. We have a blog by FCT’s Anthony Ellis on his experiences.

In another of their studies, they also found that the mineral content of stored tree fodder became more available after its storage period, indicating its potential as a stable source of minerals.

As well as animals foraging for the minerals they require, they can self medicate using plants which contain the necessary PSMs. Self selecting behaviour has been studied in goats and sheep and has revealed that those with high worm burdens will seek out leaves with high amounts of tannins to reduce their internal parasites. Certain trees contain high levels of condensed tannins which make them valuable resources for livestock. 

Herbal leys provide tannins and trace elements but trees have an advantage due to their larger and deeper root systems that allow them to access minerals deep into the soil. As perennial plants, they also have key relationships with mycorrhizal fungi which increases the variety of minerals and has the ability to use biochemistry to access nutrients that pasture plants cannot. For livestock such as chickens and pigs, alongside providing browse, trees in the field can help promote a wider range of food sources including insects, nuts and seeds and fungi, which all encourages natural foraging behaviour.

3. Expressing animal behaviour

The last point to examine from Dr Whistance’s work is the effect trees can have on farm animal behaviour. The ability for an animal to express its natural behaviour is a key but often overlooked component of farm animal welfare and promotion of healthy animals. Similar to climatic stress and nutrient deficiencies, environmental suppression of animal instinct may lead to abnormal behaviour which then contributes to more serious problems further down the line.

Dr Whistance’s work has found that fields with trees allow livestock to express behaviour such as play (including scratching and rubbing against tree trunks) and encourages the natural instinct to seek hiding places for seclusion. These behaviours support the animals when regulating their own physiological and emotional health. Cattle in silviopasture systems show increased social licking by up to 80%, which is almost double compared to solely pasture systems. This promotes greater social cohesion which results in animals that demonstrate less fear and aggression and consequently stress. On a physical level,  animals enjoy and benefit from scratching and rubbing themselves against trees and shrubs as it helps to dislodge parasites and seeds and also removes dead skin and hair which can all contribute to complications. Giving the animal the opportunity to manage its own needs in a suitable way can remove the need for intervention from the farmer.

Conclusion

One of the key insights from Dr. Whistance’s work is the vital role that trees and hedgerows play in helping animals to self-regulate, whether through shelter, diet, or behaviour. Her research highlights the importance of managing and using the natural resources available on the farm to support animal well-being. When used wisely, these resources can offer multiple benefits, reducing the need to purchase external inputs and enhancing the overall sustainability of the farm. By enabling both livestock and the wider farm system to make use of natural features, farmers can strengthen the environmental and economic resilience of their operations – just as previous generations did.

It is important to note that tree systems must be carefully designed to suit the specific needs and conditions of each farm. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and some adjustments may be necessary as the system grows within each farm.

Key Findings

  • Trees and hedgerows are valuable on-farm resources, especially for livestock farmers
  • They provide environmental benefits and are key to livestock’s physical and emotional health by facilitating access to shelter, nutrition and expression of natural behaviour. 
  • Tree planting for livestock requires careful planning so the benefits are optimised and the cost/maintenance kept as low as possible 



Building Farm Resilience in an Era of Climate and Political Uncertainty

Posted on August 1, 2025 by - Insights

Rainfall totals for spring 2025 in the UK

Written in May by Andy Adler, FCT Director

It is May, it is dry, and farmers are praying for rain.  The conversations I’ve had with farmers and veterinarians this week have painted a clear picture: while political uncertainty may cloud the immediate horizon, one thing remains constant—the risk of climate change and its disruption to traditional agricultural systems. These discussions have reinforced a fundamental truth that many in agriculture are grappling with: the old ways of doing things may no longer be sufficient for the challenges ahead.

Cracked ground in May 2025

The Reality of Risk in Modern Agriculture

Farmers today face an unprecedented combination of challenges. Extreme weather events are no longer anomalies but regular occurrences that demand preparation. Prolonged dry periods followed by prolonged wet periods, heavy rain and unexpected late frosts, shifting pest patterns that render traditional management strategies obsolete—these are the new realities of agricultural production.

Rainfall totals for spring 2025 in the UK

A warm and very dry spring was the reality for most of the UK in 2025. These plots detail how much rainfall and temperature deviate from the long-term averages between 1991 and 2020. Credit: UK Met Office

After 60 years of being encouraged to use chemical solutions to build yield, and measure efficiency as output per unit of land farmed, we have created a system that is reliant on external inputs where we have no control over price. Alongside that, we have transitioned from a predictable political subsidy system to one where objectives differ, and the expectation of delivering public goods means the subsidy systems now favour land ownership over food production. 

Yet the challenge extends beyond the farm gate. Veterinarians are also witnessing cultural shifts that demand their own form of resilience. Changing consumer expectations around animal welfare, evolving regulatory frameworks, and new technologies are transforming veterinary practice. Like farmers, they must adapt to remain relevant and practical in serving their communities.

Understanding Assets and Aspirations

Building resilience requires a fundamental shift in how we think about agricultural assets. Traditional measures of farm value—land, equipment, and livestock—remain important, but they’re no longer sufficient indicators of long-term viability. Today’s resilient farms also invest in knowledge assets, relationship networks, and adaptive capacity.

This broader understanding of assets includes soil health as a foundation for productivity, water management systems that can handle both scarcity and excess, and diversified income streams that provide stability when primary enterprises face challenges. It also encompasses the human capital—the skills, knowledge, and relationships that enable farmers to navigate uncertainty and capitalise on opportunities.

Cattle grazing in silvopasture may become a more common sight as we value the shade trees provide and the additional carbon sequestration cows can bring

Aspirations matter equally. Farmers who view their operations as dynamic systems capable of evolution rather than static enterprises bound by tradition are better positioned to build resilience. This mindset shift—from preserving the status quo to embracing adaptive change—is crucial for long-term sustainability.

Strategies for Long-Term Thinking

Successful resilience building requires moving beyond reactive responses to proactive planning. This means developing systems that can withstand shocks while maintaining productivity and profitability. Several key strategies emerge from successful adaptation stories:

Diversification remains one of the most effective tools for resilience. Farmers who have integrated multiple enterprises—combining crops with livestock, adding value-added processing, or incorporating agritourism—have created buffer systems that cushion against financial challenges. This diversification extends to soils, where longer rotations with a greater variety of crops help build soil carbon and protect soil integrity. For livestock, the diversity of forage mix with different harvest dates will provide more flexibility in responding to weather events. 

Soil health investment has proven particularly valuable. Farmers implementing regenerative practices report not only improved drought tolerance and reduced input costs but also enhanced carbon sequestration opportunities that may provide additional revenue streams. Cover cropping, reduced tillage, and integrated pest management create agricultural systems that work with natural processes rather than against them.

A herbal lay that has had no synthetic Nitrogen for four years, 21 days after being grazed (taken in September 2024)

Technology adoption, when carefully selected and implemented, enhances both productivity and adaptability. Precision agriculture tools help farmers optimise inputs and reduce waste, while weather monitoring systems provide early warnings that enable proactive responses to changing conditions. However, technology alone isn’t sufficient—it must be integrated with sound ecological principles and business planning alongside openness to learning new approaches to farming.

The Wake-Up Call We Need

The question that haunts many thoughtful observers of agriculture is what it will take for widespread recognition that complacency is no longer an option. Perhaps the answer lies not in waiting for a singular wake-up call but in recognising that the alarm has already sounded—repeatedly.

At Farm Carbon Toolkit, we work with farmers who aren’t waiting for permission to adapt, providing a whole range of services. They’re already implementing changes, investing in resilience, and building systems designed for uncertainty. They understand that protecting livelihoods and businesses requires accepting that the future will be different from the past.

This recognition is spreading through agricultural communities, driven by both necessity and opportunity. Younger farmers entering the industry often bring fresh perspectives on sustainability and adaptation. Established operators are discovering that resilience investments often improve profitability even under current conditions.

Moving Forward

The path forward requires acknowledging that resilience isn’t a destination but an ongoing process of adaptation and improvement. It demands long-term thinking in an industry which is driven by seasonal cycles. However, it understands the importance of legacy and the inheritance of future generations. Most importantly, it requires moving beyond the comfortable assumption that things will somehow work out without deliberate action.

Fundamentally, building resilience is about developing capacity—the ability to adapt, learn, and thrive in changing conditions. For agriculture to meet the challenges ahead, this capacity building must become as routine as any other farm management practice.

Spring barley crop, Norfolk, May 25 drying out and farmer has little grain expectation and even lower straw yield.

The choice is clear: we can continue to hope that traditional approaches will suffice, or we can embrace the reality that our agricultural future depends on our willingness to adapt today. The farmers leading this transformation aren’t waiting for others to catch up—they’re building the resilient systems that will define agriculture’s future.

At Farm Carbon Toolkit we are supporting those farmers to think and deliver the future. 

Hot, hot, hot…

Posted on July 16, 2025 by - Insights

Cows finding shade under a tree

By Jemma Morgan

In my role as a farm carbon and soils project assistant, I get out and about on farms a fair amount. Both at work and at home, this past month has seen me hide in the shade, reach for ice in my drinks and ‘require’ ice-cream… 

Everywhere I have been, I have seen animals doing their best to find shade.

Sheep taking shade under a tree. Photo by Andrea Shipka on Unsplash

They do not have the luxury of opening doors and hiding inside, getting ice for their water, or enjoying the soothing cool of melting ice-cream on the tongue – for many, the best they can find is a hedge.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a major fan of hedges (plant more, please) but when the sun is high in the sky, at its hottest, when the rest of us are re-applying sunscreen, or, if you’re in sunny Europe, taking a siesta, a hedge alone doesn’t actually provide much shade.

The future could be hot

With the Met Office predicting a 50:50 chance of the UK experiencing 40℃ again within the next 12 years (experienced in Lincolnshire in July 2022), for the sake of farmed animals everywhere, we must bring trees back into our farms. 

Heat impacts on animals

A quick search on Google Scholar will pull up data showing that heat-stressed animals reduce their feed intake, gain less weight, produce less milk, experience reduced fertility and are more susceptible to ill health. Prolonged exposure to temperatures as low as 22℃ can induce these stresses in cattle.

I’m yet to meet a farmer who doesn’t love her/ his stock and wants to take the best care of them. Everyone wants to see good animal welfare. Increasingly, for the sake of the health and welfare of our animals (not to mention the myriad other benefits they can provide including carbon storage, alternative income streams, biodiversity gain, etc.), we need to get more trees into our farm systems.

Cows finding any available shade on a hot day

Some solutions

Allowing a tree to grow tall in an existing hedge, or planting trees in a hedge to ‘gap up’ is a simple start, but adding in-field trees to pastures brings even more benefits. For those farmers practising a form of paddock or mob grazing, it is very easy to end up with a grazing plot that only has one side hedged, offering no shelter at all.

There are a variety of options for introducing trees into pasture fields, and an increasing number of agroforestry advisors who can work with you to understand what will work for your farm system and the welfare of your animals. Despite the Sustainable Farming Incentive being paused, you can still produce an Agroforestry Plan for your holding for which you will be paid £1,268. This makes me optimistic that tree planting and management will be funded when the financial support options are opened again next year. It’s also worth knowing that you can plant up to 275 trees per 0.25 hectares without changing the classification of your land.

Cows grazing in woodland

Given that the best time to plant a tree was yesterday, now is a good time to hatch a plan for autumn/ winter planting. You don’t have to wait for the Government to fund this for you. Whilst larger plantings may need some capital assistance, a few trees and some simple protection may be cheaper than you think. Your future bottom line will thank you for it, as will the cows who give you the milk to make that ‘very necessary’ ice-cream…

Further Information

Farm Net Zero workshop on agroforestry https://farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk/2023/12/14/livestock-and-trees/

Stuart Rogers integrating agroforestry in to a profitable dairy farm https://farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk/2025/07/01/trees-soils-and-wildlife-underpinning-profitable-dairy-farming/

Agroforestry handbook https://www.soilassociation.org/farmers-growers/low-input-farming-advice/agroforestry-on-your-farm/download-the-agroforestry-handbook/

Note: this piece was written in the heatwave of early July 2025

Oxton Organics – pushing the boundaries of soil health

Posted on April 23, 2025 by - Case Studies, Insights

“Had we still been ploughing now, we would’ve had two or three terrible seasons and lots of soil damage. The way I farm now has softened that blow. I wouldn’t want to be cultivating the land like we used to.” 

Jayne Arnold is a grower who is really pushing the boundaries of soil health and management. Based on a 12-acre organic vegetable farm in Worcestershire, she is constantly striving to find ways to improve the diversity, depth, quality and carbon content of their soils. Growing for their own veg box scheme, the farm also has a few sheep, an orchard, agroforestry and makes plenty of compost.

In this new Case Study, we learn how Oxton Organics is balancing a productive farm, producing local food, whilst constantly improving soil health and quality through a voracious appetite for knowledge and an approach.

Click here to download this case study as a PDF.

Drilling green manures between salad crops

Whilst the farm has been organic for a long time, it’s only in the last 7-8 years that this new approach to soil management started, producing some really impressive results. The approach is underpinned by applying high quality compost, biostimulants, and covering the soil as much as possible through mulches, compost and green manures.

The sheep play an important role, and the pastures they’re on have improved significantly since the species mix and stocking regime has changed. This has resulted in not just better pastures and better soil helath, but much more biodiversity too, as Jayne notes:

“In the years after sowing the pasture, it was predominantly grasses, white clover, and yarrow, with a little ribwort, burnet and yellow trefoil. Now there is much more diversity, there are flowers throughout summer and autumn, including dandelions, wild carrot, yarrow, knapweed, oxeye daisy and much more. A few bee orchids and pyramidal orchid appeared four years ago and returned every year since. We had never seen orchids on the farm before! Butterflies and other pollinating insects are also more abundant.”

Biodiverse pastures at Oxton Organics

Wildlife abounds above and below ground, from the tall hedges and lines of willow coppice to the flowers of the pastures and the cropland soil teeming with life. “There are so many worms in the soil, it’s hard to avoid them when transplanting crops!” Jayne says.

Soil Organic Matter levels are rising and distributed more evenly through the soil profile. Structure is improving, soil colouration is more even and deeper through the profile. The action of worms and perennial plants helps to draw carbon down in the soil profile – and that means it is also more stable. Carbon sequestered into the soil like this is a proper drawdown of atmospheric carbon; if it’s not released then it is stable and locked away.

An example of a deep rooting and diverse green manure mix, in one of the polytunnels

Jayne notes that weather patterns have changed, with more frequent extreme rainfall events. “The up and downness of the weather has changed a lot“, she says. Building resilience in the stability of farm soils is essential in helping to mitigate such risks that all growers are experiencing from a changing climate. Soils that are higher in carbon, have a mulch or living cover, and have better structure will be much more resilient to the effects of both heavy rain and drought.

The farm’s focus on soil management underpins all the positive aspects outputs of the farm – quality food, flood resilience, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and indeed sheer enjoyment and intrigue that gets growers out of bed in the morning. A refreshing look at green manures, founded on experience and observation, demonstrates one example of this: “you won’t build a fungal dominant soil with legumes. Plants will reject mycorrhizal associations if there’s too much Nitrogen in the system. You need to build bacteria that naturally fix Nitrogen and be more balanced. You don’t see many legumes in the hedgerow – yet that’s all green” says Jayne. 

Mycorrhizal fungi associating with a radish

Managing carbon is also part of the business strategy, using an electric van for deliveries, minimising any cultivations, ensuring lots of carbon sequestration, and reducing inputs. With so much carbon being absorbed on the farm and being turned into soil organic matter, the farm is really demonstrating how to grow in a way that builds capital for the future, whilst producing great quality food and continuing to explore and push the boundaries.

Sheep grazing in the pastures at Oxton Organics

With thanks to Jayne Arnold for the photos and the interview. Written by Jonathan Smith.

https://www.oxtonorganics.co.uk

Carbon Audits in Scotland – using The Farm Carbon Calculator

Posted on April 9, 2025 by - Calculator

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)

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

Reflections on the 7th Carbon Budget from the  Climate Change Committee

Posted on March 19, 2025 by - Insights, News

By Liz Bowles, CEO, Farm Carbon Toolkit

Every five years, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC)1 publishes a statutory report detailing the UK’s ‘carbon budget’ for a future five-year period. The 7th Carbon Budget covers the period 2038-2042. It is a stock-take of UK GHG emissions (current and future) and provides advice to the Government on how and where these emissions will need to be reduced (‘the pathway’) if the UK is to meet its legal obligations to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. 

This report came out with other reports and consultations such as the Defra Land Use Framework Consultation and the IGD’s Net Zero Transition Plan for the UK Food System. Certainly how we produce food and look after agricultural land in the UK is coming more and more under the spotlight.

Within the 7th Carbon Budget report, it is good to see that the role of land use change in removing carbon is now being linked to agricultural land which gives a truer picture than was previously the case, when land use change was in a separate silo.

It is clear that the carbon budget is very high level, focussing on climate impacts only, with little reference to the impacts of the proposed changes on biodiversity across the UK’s agricultural land. In reviewing this budget, FCT has taken a very practical viewpoint and has reflected on areas where the budget could have helpfully provided more detail and looked at how to fully engage with farmers and growers across the land who are on the delivery frontline.

As other sectors decarbonise, the proportion of total emissions arising from agriculture will increase, putting more pressure on the sector to make progress on emissions reduction and carbon removals. In 2022 the contribution of agriculture to overall UK emissions was 12%. By 2040 this is predicted to rise to 27%, after the activity to reduce emissions set out in the carbon budget and it will be the second highest emitter after aviation even with the target action outlined in this carbon budget.

The report proposes a pathway for agriculture to reach net zero by 2050. Not surprisingly woodland creation, peatland restoration and other land use changes are highlighted as mechanisms to sequester more carbon. There is significant reliance on carbon sequestration into land sinks through the 2040’s but little reliance on any level of carbon sequestration into soil itself. 

There is a reliance on increased tree planting from the late 2020’s onwards as trees will only start to sequester larger volumes of carbon from 15 years of age onwards. According to the UK Woodland Carbon Code, sequestration rates for woodland increase dramatically during the “teenage years” of woodland establishment. In total, woodland creation has been modelled to contribute 15% to emissions reduction by 2050 . This will require an additional 1.1 million ha of woodland to be planted by 2050. In addition some 300,000 ha of lowland peat and 970,000 ha of upland peat will be returned to natural/ rewetted condition by the same time.

For agriculture the reduction in overall GHG emissions is targeted at 45% by 2050 compared to 2022, coming primarily from a reduction in livestock numbers (38% by 2050) with a relatively small contribution from the adoption of low carbon farming practices. These reductions are significant, reducing the breeding flock of sheep from 15 to 11 million ewes and the breeding cattle herd from 3 to 2 million head.

The reduction in grazing livestock numbers will release land for tree planting. The combined effect of the changes to farming practice and tree planting is to suggest that the sector will become a net sequesterer of carbon by 2048.

There are a number of important assumptions included within this budget which bear further scrutiny:

  • Crop yields will increase by 16% by 2050. Presumably this increase is deemed necessary to ensure adequate plant based foods to replace the current levels of meat in our diets. However it is questionable whether this will be achievable in practice, even if gene editing technologies are successful and fully deployed as more adverse weather events are already affecting yield levels in the UK and across the world. It is not clear how critical to successful achievement of the overall plan this is.
  • Stocking rates for grazing livestock on lowland will increase by around 10% with stocking rates in the upland reduced. Presumably the former is to allow for more land to be released to grow crops for human consumption and the latter to reflect the current over-grazing in parts of the upland and to reflect rewetting of upland peatlands and the proposals for tree planting. Targeting increased stocking rates for lowland livestock could require additional artificial fertiliser inputs which would seem counter intuitive, though the increased stocking rate could potentially be achieved through improvements in grassland utilisation efficiency.
  • Consumption of meat products (primarily beef and lamb) will fall by 35% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. On first sight it would appear that changes in consumption are mirroring proposed reductions in livestock numbers, however, no mention is made of any changes in dairy cow numbers, but since the majority of beef produced in the UK comes from the dairy herd this will also impact milk production. Consideration is also given to replacing meat in ready meals with plant based alternatives which will negatively affect carcass balance, with lower value “cuts” often used for this purpose at the moment. This would put further pressure on sector profitability. The targeted reduction in ruminant livestock numbers would lead to a lower requirement of permanent grassland for grazing of a similar order to the reduction in livestock numbers. This would amount to around 3 million ha which could be diverted for other use, where this is possible. Tree planting would be a key use for poorer quality ground (topography and stoniness) with better quality grassland moving to arable cropping where this is possible. This would probably lead to loss of carbon from soils, especially when permanent grassland is first transitioned to arable cropping2. It is not clear whether this has been accounted for within the overall budget. 
  • The carbon budget includes a very low value (0.5Mt CO2e per year for carbon removed by grassland soils). This appears to be low and seems to take little account of the ability for well-managed livestock systems to bring multiple benefits beyond reducing emissions including carbon removals into soils and enhanced biodiversity.

    More research and data analysis is required urgently to inform us of the ability of the soil to permanently and reliably store more carbon and how best this can be done. We have some information as do others, but as yet this is not a body of evidence which the CCC can use as part of its carbon budget.
  • Returning around 300,000 ha lowland peat to a rewetted state will impinge upon its current use for growing vegetables, fruit and arable crops. The report does mention that some 10% of horticultural production will move indoors, which is likely to focus on leafy salad type crops. However for field scale vegetable production left to be grown outdoors the question remains as to where they will be grown. Moving vegetable growing to other parts of the UK will require careful site selection if current levels of margin (currently pretty low) are to be maintained and consideration of the infrastructure required, such as pack houses and cold stores.

There were also a number of notable omissions from the budget:

  • Whilst the pathway to reduce nitrous oxide emissions are recognised as coming primarily from agriculture, there is no mention of the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuel based N fertilisers. For arable cropping, up to 75% of total emissions arise from the production and use of artificial N fertiliser. Great work is being done to produce low carbon alternatives, but further information on the likely “winning technologies” in this space would have been helpful.
  • The level of efficiency of the UK to produce food at a lower GHG intensity than some other nations, utilising fewer arable resources (land and feed) and with lower supply chain discards through a circular feed system provides the nation with a competitive advantage in terms of overall emissions per unit of home grown food. This could be better recognised within the budget report.
  • There is no mention of any target to reduce numbers of pigs and poultry within this 7th Carbon Budget. Whilst the animals themselves do not emit methane, their manures do and their reliance on imported soya has a significant impact on overall UK agriculture emissions as well as the soil degradation associated with cereal production to grow the cereals they wholly rely on. We have estimated that reducing reliance on imported soya by 50% and moving to feeding UK grown beans and pulses will reduce the emissions from agriculture by 7% (primarily due to reduced reliance on artificial N fertiliser and to removing deforestation emissions on 50% soya supply).

Reliance on land use change to enable agriculture to reach net zero by 2050

In the period from 2043-2050 agriculture and land use are budgeted to contribute the largest share of net emissions reduction (35%) – see figure 2 below from the Carbon Budget report, and to reach net zero emissions by 2050 as a result of increases in carbon sequestration into land sinks (primarily increased areas of woodland and reduced emissions from peatland due to changed management) with emissions of around 25Mt CO2e and sequestration of around 26Mt CO2e per year. Current emissions from UK agriculture are around 48Mt CO2e per year.

Distribution of emissions reductions during each carbon budget period (Climate Change Committee, Seventh Carbon Budget, 2025)

At FCT, we are in agreement with the Agriculture Advisory Group of the UK Climate Change Committee and its report in calling for more nuanced targets which better reflect the benefits of UK livestock production, especially when it is primarily based on the consumption of forages. We also agree with their view that it is important to reflect on the impact of the different gases on warming aligned to the Paris Agreement temperature goal. Both GWP100 and GWP* metrics are important and could already be reported in concert to inform on both GHG accounting (CO2e) for national inventories and impact of different GHGs on climate warming (CO2e) important for the Paris Agreement. 

We believe that the report could be much more positive about the contribution that resilient farming businesses, agricultural land and farmers can make to meeting the climate change challenge. Positive engagement and empowerment of farmers, growers and land managers are critical elements in building confidence and encouraging investment but is currently patchy, with beacons of good practice such as the Farm Net Zero project in Cornwall, which is delivering change on the ground and practically supporting farm businesses to transition towards net zero.

Footnotes

  1. A body set up to hold the government to account on their progress towards net zero and reducing emissions
  2. The UK GHG inventory suggests that the average change in non- organic soil carbon density (to 1M deep) from converting grassland to cropland in England is -24 tonnes C/ ha, in Scotland is -101 tC/ha, Wales -39 tC/ha and NI -68 tC/ha

Grassland Manager of the Year 2025

Posted on February 20, 2025 by - Carbon Farmer of the Year, News

Andrew and Clare Brewer: 2025 winners in the National Arable and Grassland Awards 

Andrew Brewer is our FCT Carbon Farmer of the Year 2024 and we are delighted to congratulate him and Clare on scooping the National Arable and Grassland award for Grassland Manager of the year. Andrew is also one of our Demonstration Farms in the Farm Net Zero Project in Cornwall which is supported by the National Lottery.

Andrew and Clare are pictured in the centre of the photo with sponsors and judges

They were worthy winners in this category. The Awards are supported by a wide range of industry businesses including BASIS and the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.