How agroforestry can help build a farm’s climate resilience

Building resilience into the farming system has been Tom Edmondson’s target since he took over the 120ha family farm near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, but the increasing likelihood of hotter, drier summers now means that more change is coming.

Since 2012, Tom and his wife Mary have moved the business from being an intensive pig production and arable farm to a low-input, extensive mixed farm system, incorporating a market garden run on a share farming basis, along with a farm shop.

See also: Oxfordshire farm expands to be self-sufficient for wheat

They did this by adopting regenerative principles, putting soil health at the centre of what they do by integrating cover crops and livestock across the farm, as well as gradually moving to direct-drilling, applying biology and making fewer interventions.

As a result, input costs have fallen and their management time has eased, while biodiversity has flourished. “It’s also been more fun,” says Tom. 

Agroforestry plans

Their next step is to make agroforestry an integral part of the business, as they continue to shape the farm to withstand climatic and economic pressures.

Trees will be planted in both grass and arable fields this winter, as a means of providing shelter, shade and more resilience – bringing weather protection and risk reduction, as well as water management.

New business opportunities and product sales are also part of the ambitious plan, as the trees will provide fruit and nuts that can be used for various food and drink products sold in the farm shop.

Some two-thirds of the current arable land will include 24m alley cropping with rows of fruit and nut trees, while low-lying permanent pasture adjoining the River Ouse will have both woodland pasture and a 20m woodland strip established.

Climate resilience

On the grassland, including tree species that are good for grazing and browsing, such as willow, alder and mulberry, will provide additional nutrition as well as providing the shelter and shade that his Longhorn cattle will increasingly need as the climate changes.

“In the wood pasture, there will be a tree every 20m for shade,” explains Tom. “That means a planting density of 25 stems per hectare.”

Cactus tree guards will be used, so that the cattle can go into those areas straight away and no grazing land is lost.

A Trees for Climate grant is funding most of the work, which will completely change the farm, acknowledges Tom, but should create other opportunities.

This year’s heatwaves have been a reminder of what’s at stake and the importance of future-proofing, he adds.

“We’ve had just 95mm of rain since March, and although the grassland is still producing, thanks to our adaptive multi-paddock grazing system, regrowth has been poor.”

Soil protection

Soil temperatures taken at the height of the summer revealed the extremes, with bare ground being prepared for stubble turnips in May recording 48C. In contrast, recently mown land was 33C but temperatures at the bottom of the grass were 25C.

“That shows that this system of daily cattle moves is working. Armouring the soil surface through the trampling action of the cattle helped give the necessary protection in such a hot, dry summer.”

No sprays or fertiliser have been used on the permanent pasture since 2017, while veterinary and medicine costs have come right down.

© Louise Impey

Longhorns were chosen for their suitability to a grass-based system and ability to largely look after themselves.

The woodland strip, which will be 20m wide and will split two fields lengthwise, is going to be a mix of timber hardwoods, including oaks, small leaved lime, hornbeam, sweet chestnut, alder and willow – the latter species being suited to wetter ground.

It will be fenced off until the trees are mature, with plastic guards used in the meantime to prevent pest damage.

Alley cropping

On the arable land, a mixture of fruit and nut trees will be planted in 3m grass strips in alleys with a width of 24m, so that crops can be grown between them and existing machinery used.

Having a tree every 5m will add to the farm’s output, while also bringing soil health benefits and guarding against weather shocks. Unproductive field corners will also be planted in woodland blocks.

The intention with the fruit and nut trees is to run a pick-your-own operation, as well as to sell produce in the on-site farm shop.

“Leftovers will be made into jams, chutneys, pies and juice, and then our pastured chickens will come in and do any tidying up.”

For the arable crops, margins are the focus. This year’s drought reduced the farm’s winter wheat yield to 5t/ha from a typical 7-8t/ha, but the crop still made a profit, stresses Tom.

“Now the soils are cycling nutrients effectively, our nitrogen use is down to 100kg of N/ha,” he explains.

One pre-emergence spray, a broad-leaved weed treatment and a T2 fungicide were the only other inputs, meaning expenditure was very low, he reveals. 

“Our input use has come right down. By using cover crops, integrating livestock and reducing soil disturbance, soil structure and function is much better. Roots can penetrate and soils are working as they should be.”

Hot composting has been carried out on the farm for the past three years, with woodchip and clay mixed with farm manures before being windrowed and turned. Worms are then added, before it is allowed to stand.

“It’s not about applying nutrients, but adding biology. It helps the soil function efficiently without artificial inputs,” says Tom.

His current rotation is one year of winter cropping, followed by one year of cover crop – often grazed by both cattle and sheep.

When Tom’s current Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement comes to an end, he will consider whether arable reversion is the best option.