Dairy farmers asked to shape future environmental targets
© Tim Scrivener The Dairy Roadmap, an industry-wide initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of milk production, is calling on UK dairy farmers to share their views on how future sustainability targets should be set.
Established in 2008, the roadmap has already helped to drive change within the dairy sector, with the average age at first calving being reduced by more than 30 days since 2018.
It has also helped drive a shift towards renewable energy, with 40% of energy used on dairy farms now coming from renewable sources, and encouraged roughly 80% of dairy farmers to calculate their carbon footprint.
See also: On-farm slurry-fed anaerobic digestion: What to consider
Existing targets include farms carrying out soil testing every two years, carbon footprint measurements every three years, and making the use of low-emission slurry spreading techniques mandatory by 2027.
Farmers’ input
Farmers are now being urged to provide their input on which future environmental actions will be most practical on farm and the likely cost implications for the sector.
Some in-person events have already started taking place in England and Wales, with a further event scheduled in Scotland at the SRUC Barony Campus, Dumfries, on 13 November.
Online workshops will take place on 21 and 25 November to gain the wider views of dairy producers.
Bas Padberg, chairman of the Dairy Roadmap, said: “This is the moment for farmers to make their voices heard.
“The Dairy Roadmap has always been about collaboration, and we need farmers’ experience, ideas and insight to shape realistic and effective sustainability goals.”
“The decisions made now will define the roadmap for the next generation of dairy production.”
Responses from farmers and the wider dairy supply chain will be used to inform the Sustainable Pathways Report, which is due to be published next year and will be used to develop new industry targets.
Mr Padberg added: “It’s vital that the roadmap reflects the realities of dairy farming – both the challenges and the innovation that’s happening every day on the farm.”