project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
East/west grazing collaboration project
East/west grazing collaboration project
Contexte
In August 2018 the NFUS Straw and Fodder Summit highlighted the financial vulnerability of Scotland’s beef suckler herd to severe weather events that affect the availability of straw and fodder. As well as encouraging short term solutions such as arable farmers baling more straw and other fodder options being made available, there was a recognition of a need for longer term thinking to make better use of available resources across Scotland to improve the resilience and financial viability of Scotland’s beef suckler herd. There was a recognition of the need to support the industry to create its own long term solutions.
Objectives
This project came about through discussions with SBA and NFUS following the straw and fodder summit in August 2018 on how beef farmers could make better use of available grazing across Scotland. The project sets out to trial two approaches to maximise the use of natural capital assets to improve the financial and environmental viability of the beef suckler herd in Scotland.
• To trial two movements of breeding cattle from east to west for summer/backend grazing (4 farms).
• To trial two movements of breeding cattle from west to east for out wintering on forage crops (4 farms).
Objectives
This project came about through discussions with SBA and NFUS following the straw and fodder summit in August 2018 on how beef farmers could make better use of available grazing across Scotland. The project sets out to trial two approaches to maximise the use of natural capital assets to improve the financial and environmental viability of the beef suckler herd in Scotland.
• To trial two movements of breeding cattle from east to west for summer/backend grazing (4 farms).
• To trial two movements of breeding cattle from west to east for out wintering on forage crops (4 farms).
Activities
March 2019 Industry agreement on approaches (including establishing best practice approaches to follow a common evaluation framework for climate change and biodiversity)
April 2019 Trial farms selected
May 2019 Trial farm visits
June 2019 Joint farm visits of participants, skills audit
July – December 2019 Health plans and economic plans established
August 2019 Farm carbon audits
Jan 2020 – SOPs, protocols, calendar established
July 2019-Feb 2020 – Films and case studies
March 2020 future facilitation plan
May 2020 Project close and promotion meeting – launch films and case studies
Activities
March 2019 Industry agreement on approaches (including establishing best practice approaches to follow a common evaluation framework for climate change and biodiversity)
April 2019 Trial farms selected
May 2019 Trial farm visits
June 2019 Joint farm visits of participants, skills audit
July – December 2019 Health plans and economic plans established
August 2019 Farm carbon audits
Jan 2020 – SOPs, protocols, calendar established
July 2019-Feb 2020 – Films and case studies
March 2020 future facilitation plan
May 2020 Project close and promotion meeting – launch films and case studies
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP003 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Scotland
Emplacement
- Main geographical location
- Perth & Kinross and Stirling
- Other geographical location
- North Lanarkshire, Caithness & Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty
EUR 50 972.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Fergus Younger
Project coordinator