5 sustainable farming practices to consider

For livestock farmers, a core area of focus when looking to reduce carbon emissions is increasing the efficiency of their grassland. Productive grassland can help to improve the efficiency of livestock production and reduce the need for bought-in feed, as well as help sequester carbon in the soil.

“Grassland is the UK’s largest crop, totalling around 12.5 m hectares,” says Paul Billings, Germinal GB & Ireland Managing Director. “With two billion tonnes of carbon believed to be sequestered in our grassland soils, it’s the UK’s biggest carbon sink and holds more carbon per hectare than forestry.

“As well as the carbon sequestered in our grassland soils, grassland vegetation contains around nine billion tonnes of carbon, with plants capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Productive and efficient grassland is central to food and energy security, with its sustainable use and management a fundamental part of achieving net-zero.”

Here are five ways to achieve efficient and sustainable production:

1. Select your agri grass seed carefully

Germinal’s range of Aber High Sugar Grasses (Aber HSG) contains higher levels of water-soluble carbohydrates (sugars) and, therefore, energy than conventional ryegrasses. Using this energy, rumen bacteria convert more of the plant protein into meat and milk.

And with less protein wasted, ammonia emissions are reduced, combining productivity and performance with sustainability.

2. Integrate forage crops into your rotation

Integrating forage crops such as brassicas, lucerne, or swedes into the rotation brings many benefits. Both brassicas and lucerne provide a source of protein and reduce the need for bought-in feed.

High-energy swedes also offer a great option for autumn or winter grazing, reducing feed and housing costs during this period. Learn more about growing brassicas.

3. Consider sowing multi-species grass seed

If you’re planning on reseeding in spring, consider sowing multi-species grass seed. Increasing sward diversity benefits soil health and structure, resilience, forage quality and livestock performance.

Multi-species grazing can include a mix of grass species, legumes and herbs, with their complementary properties bringing different benefits. For example, including clovers in the sward helps fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the use of N fertiliser.

Adding the deep-rooting herb plantain enhances drought tolerance and develops soil structure, as well as providing a protein and mineral-rich addition to livestock diets.

4. Think about methods of establishment

Establishment is a critical part of reseeding and the new sward’s future performance, so it’s important to choose the method most appropriate for your system and soil:

• Ploughing – a good option where soil compaction is an issue and ensures good seed-to-soil contact. But it can be expensive, dry out lighter soils, damage soil biology and bring less fertile soil and weed seed banks to the surface
• Minimum tillage (Min-till) – often a cheaper option that allows a quicker return to grazing and avoids little disturbance of the topsoil, ideal in stony and shallow soils. Preparation is important with thatch or trash broken up and buried to create a fine, level seedbed
• Direct drilling – useful for renewing rotationally grazed pastures. Preparation is, again, central to its success with all dead material removed before drilling

5. Integrate livestock

This may seem obvious to farmers already grazing livestock, but have you considered grazing your silage ground at least once a year?

Grazing benefits soil health in several ways, including water infiltration, soil aeration and treading in organic matter. Livestock manure also adds nutrients back in to aid growth. Good soil health is the foundation of a productive grassland.

Good grassland management is a powerful tool in effective and sustainable livestock production. We continue to support farmers in this through innovation and working to develop products fit for the future.

To connect with one of our specialists and learn more about how Germinal’s climate-smart products can help your farm, click here.