Welsh farms join environmental baselining pilot

Eight beef and sheep farms in Wales have joined a national project to measure their environmental performance, helping to build a clearer picture of farming’s role in climate and nature outcomes.

The farms are part of the Environment Baselining Pilot, led by the AHDB alongside Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The initiative brings together 170 farms across England, Scotland and Wales, spanning livestock, dairy and arable systems.

See also: Livestock farms could play big part in drive towards net zero

The Welsh pilot is designed to generate farm-level data on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon storage, soil health and biodiversity, helping move away from reliance on national or global averages.

HCC’s Dr Eleri Thomas, industry efficiency and sustainability executive, said: “We are pleased to support this exciting pilot and support red meat producers as they take bold steps to baseline and better understand the environmental impact of their businesses.”

She added that the findings would help provide a more accurate picture of the sector’s environmental position and progress.

“The data will help to demonstrate the real environmental benefits of the agricultural industry and provide a more accurate reflection of its position and progress towards net zero,” she said.

Farm profiles

Participating farms were selected to reflect a range of landscapes, soil types and systems.

Among them are Huw and Daniel Owen, who run a 126ha upland farm near Oswestry, largely productive grazing land with silage, turnips and some woodland.

The business includes 640 ewes and 39 suckler cows, using rotational grazing with herbal leys and three-year soil testing on heavy clay loam soils.

In Mid-Glamorgan, Andrew Edwards manages a 68ha upland holding with a forage-based system, running 18 suckler cows and 240 Welsh Mountain ewes. The farm has participated in Habitat Wales, Glastir and Glastir Advanced, with both managed and unmanaged woodland.

And in Pembrokeshire, Peter Morris farms 121ha organically with his family, operating a low-input suckler herd and lamb finishing enterprise within environmental schemes, including Habitat Wales and organic certification.

Fieldwork is already under way, with soil carbon sampling to depths of 1m, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning, and carbon audits carried out on participating farms.

Each business will receive a tailored action plan based on the results.

Wider strategy

The pilot forms part of HCC’s wider strategy to improve environmental and economic sustainability in the red meat sector.

Dr Thomas said: “HCC has committed to measuring current environmental and economic performance and drive improvements through industry collaboration.

“This pilot is a key element of that promise, and we look forward to working with the eight Welsh farmers and enabling them to take insight-led action towards a more sustainable future.”