The regenerative approach is improving water quality in the Eastern and Western Cleddau
In each of the last four years, First Milk members have committed more land to their regenerative farming plans and implemented more interventions per hectare.
As a result, the dairy co-operative has exceeded its carbon sequestration target twice over, with more than 203,000 tonnes of CO2e sequestered across its farms, and its members are increasingly working with nature to improve biodiversity, enhance habitat quality and better manage water.
Water stewardship
This last element is central to the company's endeavours to stretch its targets; mindful water usage is critical to building a truly regenerative farming system.
A long-term, 21-year partner of Nestle, First Milk is now also collaborating with Nestle Waters and Premium Beverages in a four-year project with members in Pembrokeshire.
By equipping the project farmers with the knowledge and tools to reduce soil compaction and improve water infiltration on their land, it aims to capture up to an additional 250 million litres of groundwater per year.听
This is being done with a focus on the long-term use of regenerative farming practices across almost 600 hectares (1,480 acres) of land initially, with more expected.
Reducing compaction 听
Initial agronomy assessments, soil sampling and penetrometer tests have established the baseline status of the land, with specific interventions being determined for each land type, field-by-field as well as farm-by-farm.
Interventions to improve soil structure and reduce compaction include:
- Short-term physical actions, such as 鈥榮ward slitter', 鈥榮ward lifter' and 'grassland subsoiler'.
- Chemical measures based on comprehensive soil testing to identify acidic soils or those with mineral imbalances.
- Long-term biological management changes to prevent or minimise the reoccurrence of compaction: such as better rotational grazing infrastructure, deeper rooting species sown into pastures and controlled traffic farm systems, common on arable farms but not usually adopted on dairy farms.
Increasing water infiltration
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These interventions will combine to improve soil structure, allowing more water infiltration, increase soil organic matter to promote the soil's water-holding capacity, and support biodiversity.听
By taking this holistic approach to managing soil compaction and reducing water run-off, the project farmers are ultimately helping to improve water quality in the local watercourses, including the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers and tributaries of the River Taf.
Mark Brooking, First Milk chief impact officer, says: "The ability of land to store water to help prevent flooding, manage drought and protect water quality is vital.
"Poor water systems increase flood and drought risk, and as extreme weather events intensify, the consequences of this are being seen more often.
"Some UK farming sectors are already suffering severe consequences from inadequate water management, illustrating the need to create positive change. This project further enables our members to farm in a way that benefits the land, nature and local communities."听
This is also recognised by Matthew Faulkner, factory manager of the Nestle Waters and Premium Beverages bottling site in Pembrokeshire.
He says: "We have a responsibility to support the local community and create a positive water impact. This initiative is the first of its kind for the Nestle business where we are working with farmers not directly in our supply chain but who we have a shared interest with to improve the local environment."
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William Fox, South Astridge Farm, Tenby
First Milk member William Fox, from near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, is one of the farmers involved with the project. He has 400 autumn block calving cows on 222 hectares (550 acres), with roughly equal proportions of owned (109ha, 270 acres) and rented (113ha, 280 acres) land.
A little more than 20 hectares (50 acres) have been assessed by the project agronomist, with initial results showing some compaction in two fields.
The areas with low levels of compaction are part of the grazing rotation and were worked with a sward slitter earlier in the year, illustrating the benefits of this physical intervention. The friable soil texture, good root structure and worm activity will all help water infiltrate deeper into the soil profile.
The areas showing compaction are under different management, this probably contributing to the difference in ground condition. A sward lifter has been recommended, working up from below the level of compaction to be most effective in lifting and shattering the compacted area.
Mr Fox says: "I became involved to gain a better understanding of the land being assessed and to learn if there is anything we can do to improve it where necessary.
"A good, healthy soil means it is extremely friable. It becomes like a sponge, so when it rains the water can infiltrate really quickly, dragging all the nutrients into the soil.
"Anything I can do to improve compaction issues within our soils is a benefit."
