An overview of climate change and potential impacts, focussing on herbal leys and agroforestry as adaptive strategies.

The impacts of a changing climate on livestock farming are becoming increasingly apparent, with several recent summers being notably hot and dry, presenting challenges for forage production, livestock performance and welfare. Mild, wet winters and increasingly frequent heavy rainfall events add to this picture, creating further challenges for livestock, soil and nutrient management. The ability to maintain farm performance under increasingly unpredictable and potentially extreme weather conditions is therefore becoming ever more important.

This event explores the issues from the perpective of a livestock farmer operating within an intensive grassland based system and outlines potential adaptation strategies to enhance the resilience of the farming operation. The main focus of the day will be around agroforestry and herbal leys.

Hear from the Met Office about:

Agriculture and the changing climate - trends variability & extremes

Implications for the East Midlands - temperature, rainfall, flood events & soil moisture

Potential effects upon grazing livestock systems - performance & welfare

Examples of adaptative measures

The Forestry Commission will discuss the value of trees, hedgerows, agroforestry & wood pasture:

Shelter for livestock in adverse weather conditions - welfare & performance

Enhanced micro-climate for forage production & extra feed source (browse)

Reduced flooding & erosion through enhanced soil structure & interception of run-off

Carbon storage & greenhouse gas mitigation

Catchment Sensitive Farming will discuss ongoing work supporting grassland farmers with deep rooting legume / herbal leys:

Productivity & livestock performance with less reliance on nitrogen fertiliser

Maintaining production under hot, dry summer conditions

Improved water infiltration, reduced flood risk & run-off through enhanced soil structure - better carrying capacity

Hear from the Peak District National Park Authority about how the Farming in Protected Landscapes grant scheme can support the adoption of such resilient approaches within the National Park area.

A guided tour of the farm will consider the practical implementation of an agroforestry plan, aiming to help answer:

Could agroforestry work on your farm?

How do you begin the process?

We will see practical approaches to the establishment of herbal leys / multi species swards, and consider:

Differences in establishment between direct drilling (Moore Unidrill - close spacing) and more intensive full seedbed cultivation (rotavator)

Effectiveness of direct drilling as a way to reduce the number of perennial weed (e.g. broad-leaved dock) seedlings within a new ley

Limitations of direct drilling into older ryegrass leys

See the direct drill close-up and hear from the operator

The value of short term westerwold / italian ryegrass leys as an opportunity to control weeds & build a forage buffer

The results of using a clover-safe herbicide to control docks within a white clover / ryegrass ley

Event hosted by kind permission of the Marsden family. Thorpe farm was until recently a 120 cow dairy farm, adding value to their milk by making and retailing their own ice cream (there is an option for a tour of the micro dairy over lunchime). Soils are free draining silt loam over shale and the farm has a range of actions within SFI.

Start location: Thorpe Farm, what3words detailed location: ///declines.paramedic.patch (approach from the Castleton Road)

Free lunch included - booking essential

Please check this page for updates prior to your booked date

Description supplied by the event organiser.