MMN July 2024 – Carbon, Biodiversity and Regenerative Agriculture

Your Milk Buyers’ Plans and How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Milk companies, food manufacturers and food product retailers are increasingly aligning themselves with the regenerative agriculture movement. This means that regenerative agriculture practices now have a real price tag attached to them for farmers. First Milk is undoubtably the most invested in this with its members having to undertake a ‘regen plan’ annually where points are awarded based on the number of regenerative or biodiversity enhancing interventions taking place on the farm. However, other milk companies also have points-based systems or advantage schemes such as Arla and Müller, where premiums are awarded based at least in part, according to similar criteria. There is no actual universally agreed upon set of standards or practices that constitutes regenerative agriculture but there is consensus on the fundamental principles. These are:

1. Minimise soil disturbance.
2. Keep the soil covered.
3. Maintain living roots in the soil.
4. Maximise plant diversity.
5. Integrate livestock.

Furthermore, whilst not mentioned in the above list of principles, milk companies are also assessing farm practices in terms of biodiversity gain and carbon efficiency. With milk companies and the Scottish Government both offering financial incentives for hitting the same criteria, there has never been a more important time to invest in your farm’s natural capital, not just to tick a box, but for the bottom line. So, what are some of the things you can do to stay ahead of the curve and make sure you are securing the regen-ag, carbon and biodiversity premiums?

 

Grazing and cropping strategies

You may think that livestock integration on a dairy farm is easily achieved. However, even dairy farms can have large areas that are just cut for silage or used for arable cropping that are rarely grazed by livestock. With housed herds this is especially significant. Where grazing can be maximised, this can help to increase the regen score. Beyond the amount of land grazed, the method of grazing is also important, with rotational grazing or mob grazing being preferable to set stocking. Sward plant diversity is also a criterion. This could include multispecies leys that are intentionally seeded or semi-natural, and species-rich grasses. Where land is used for arable cropping, cover and catch cropping and incorporating livestock grazed grass leys into the rotation can help to meet the standards.

 

Biodiversity features

Milk companies are also allocating points for the establishment of new, or management of existing biodiversity promoting features. Hedges can help to meet both biodiversity and carbon targets. This is because they provide habitat and a food source for a number of species, and also sequester carbon whilst gaining biomass. Hedgerow sequestration is quantifiable in the Agrecalc carbon calculator for hedges younger than 30 years. To manage existing hedgerows for biodiversity gain, consider trimming hedges once every two or three years to allow them to flower. Hedges can also be enhanced by laying or coppicing. Other biodiversity options include wildlife corridors, wildflower strips, ponds, riparian buffers, conservation areas, wetlands, and silvopastures. It is worth noting that many of these options also fall under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). As such, there is funding towards the establishment capital and the management of a number of different biodiversity features and habitats that also satisfy milk company objectives.

 

Conclusion

Whilst milk companies are not all paying for the same regen and biodiversity practices, or may be incentivising some more than others, between the milk buyer premiums and the Scottish Government’s environmental schemes, the financial significance of environmental farming has never been higher. You may have land that you’ve previously considered unproductive and less valuable, but in the coming years that land may turn out to be one of your most valuable natural capital assets to help you access both government funding and milk buyer premiums. To find out more about what you’ve got and what you could create in terms of biodiversity and habitat, there is currently funding available towards biodiversity audits. Please get in touch with your local office or the Farm Advisory Service to find out more.

https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/

https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/soils/regenerative-agriculture/

 

freya.lance@sac.co.uk; 0131 603 7526