Integrated Farm Management - Anthony Goggin (Leaf)

Closing the yield gap:

Innovation, science and

technology on your farm Anthony Goggin, LEAF Marque Technical Manager

Farming Futures Workshop Tuesday 1st February, Innovation Farm, NIAB,

•What if LEAF?

•What is IFM?

•Benefits of IFM

LEAF – Linking Environment And Farming

What is LEAF?

• Set up in 1991• Common concern for the future of farming • Started global activity 2006

Aim:• To do something positive for farming• Develop system of farming which is realistic and

achievable• LEAF was established to develop and promote

Integrated Farm Management (IFM) to farmers• And promote the benefits of IFM to consumers and raise

the awareness of the way many farmers are responding to current concerns

LEAF’s roots

• A Charity• A membership organisation at the

forefront of developing and promoting environmentally responsible farming

• Farmers• Corporate• College• Advisors• Friends of LEAF • Producer Groups

• LEAF sets up Demonstration Farms• LEAF provides technical information and

guidelines to help farmers

What is LEAF?

Our mission…simple but compelling

Inspiring and enabling prosperous farming that enriches the environment

and engages local communities

LEAF – Linking Environment And Farming

A sustainable system of agriculture which: – meets the economic needs of farmers

– Addresses the concerns of consumers

– Minimises any impact on the environment

– conserves and enhances the fabric and wildlife of the countryside for future generations

IFM is a:– Common-sense approach, utilising best practice– Realistic way forward for farmers – System that produces food that is wholesome and affordable– System that is applicable to all farming sectors globally

including organics

Our vision for the future

LEAF’s work focuses on 4 core themes • Technical know-how• Market development• Demonstration • Communication

And these areas will be the focus of our future activities

LEAF’s priorities

…research providing the case for IFM

Econom

ic

Socia

l

Environmental

The IFM Database

Available for technical managers and training providers

LEAF Marque aims

• Give growers recognition

• Engage with the consumer

• Inform consumer of how food is produced

• Give consumer choice to buy into better environment

• Promote more sustainable farming

• Above all for our members it’s about creating a more sustainable business

LEAF Marque On Branded Products

Impact Globally

• Current members of the scheme total 811 members including 11 producer groups

• Over 72,000 hectares of fruit and vegetables now registered

• Over 37,000 hectares of combinable crops• Total extrapolated area is 273,685 hectares

Introduction to Integrated Farm

Management

COMPONENTS OF IFM

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTSOF IFMOF IFM

Sustainable farming

• A method of agriculture that attempts to ensure the profitability of farms while preserving and enhancing the environment.

Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals:

• environmental stewardship,• farm profitability,• and prosperous farming communities,and underwritten by political commitment.

These goals have been defined by a variety of disciplines and may be looked at from the vantage point of the farmer or the consumer.

IFM – definition

A cropping and livestock production strategy in which the farmer seeks to conserve and enhance the environment while economically producing safe, wholesome food. Its long term aim is to optimise the needs of consumers, society, the environment and the farmer.

LEAF

Sustainable development:

Development that meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Definition of IFM – Key words/phrases

• site specific• whole farm -discuss• sustained income/profit• balance• wholesome, affordable food• environmental responsibility• social acceptability• sustainable• economically viable• ecologically sensitive• comprehensive

IFM principles

• A commitment to good crop and animal husbandry

• Efficient soil management and appropriate cultivation techniques

• The use of crop rotations• Optimal reliance on animal medicines, crop

protection chemicals and fertilisers - not minimal

• Careful choice of seed varieties

IFM principles - continued

• Maintenance of the landscape and rural communities

• Enhancement of wildlife habitats• A commitment to team spirit based on

communication, training and involvement

Changes necessary for IFM

• reduce use of finite resources• Improve and enhance wildlife habitats• Increase in biodiversity• enhance energy efficiency• reduce reliance on chemical inputs• improve public perception

Things not to be changed

• quantity of food produced - debate• quality of food• price of food – affordable for all• farm profitability• economic stability of agriculture• adoption of new technologies – innovation

Features of IFM

• whole farm• more efficient • change to existing practice• high management and agronomic skills• commitment• environmental awareness• attention to detail• auditing and monitoring• increased evidence• Site specific

Benefits of IFM

• Prepared for future challenges• Logical, achievable, realistic farming systems • More efficient farming system - improved profitability (cost

control)• Motivation through encouragement and focus• less waste of natural resources• less reliance on chemicals• Reduced environmental risk and less pollution (air, soil, water)• improved soil health• enriched biodiversity and improved environmental

performance• improved quality of produce through attention to detail• increased marketability of produce• improved public perception/trust

Actions

• Carry out the LEAF Audit• Set plans and procedures to meet your own

businesses requirements and priorities• Seek advice• Visit a LEAF Demonstration Farm• get involved with the Speak Out initiative – meet

people, tell them about what you do, get them round a farm, put up interpretation boards on your farm

• Become LEAF Marque certified

COMPONENTS OF IFM

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTSOF IFMOF IFM

Valuing LEAF membership

‘unpacking’ the benefits experienced by

LEAF farmer members

Janet Dwyer, Jane Mills and Nick Lewis

Why CCRI did the study

In LEAF’s own surveys (2008, 2010) members noted a range of benefits from being part of LEAF:

Economic, Environmental and Social They wanted to find out more about

the range of benefits experienced on different farms the scale of benefits and how they arose

What CCRI found

1. Significant economic benefits Cost savings on variable inputs (fertiliser, pesticides, vet medicines)- Greater efficiency in use of water, fuels and/or electricity-The LEAF Audit encourages you not to view manure as a waste product but as a valuable nutrient bank”.Replacing chemical fertilisers with manures, green composts and /or sewage cake, saving £3,000 a year

-Precise planning of fertiliser use saved £2,500/yr

GPS-linked savings of c.£10,000/yr

£25,000 from soil mapping a large arable farm, reducing fertiliser applications by 30% : GPS equipment paid for itself within 2 years-All identified via the LEAF audit, or realised via the putting into practice of IFM

-Fuel bowsers and changes in machinery use reduced fuel costs by £5,000%-IFM with min-till means 10% less use of machinery -recycling wastes – reduced disposal costs

- water efficiency improvements, water storage benefits

- ideas for alternative energy or energy recycling

LEAF Audit

Fertiliser saved £9,600Cost of sampling £3,900

Annual savings of £5,700

LEAF Audit

14.3L/Ha

More significant economic benefits

Improved incomes, examples

Valued supply contracts via LEAF Marque – with Waitrose and others Improved stock condition from IFM Premium prices for the product Increased visitor revenue (OFS/Demo farms) Increased direct sales from LEAF events Easier access to Higher level Agri-environment

Benefits of £2,000 – £7,000 annually

For the number crunchers!Example economic benefit Annual

gross saving £

Saving per hectare

£

farm size ha

A creditable standard to supply with 30000 81 370

use of GPS variable rate fertiliser application 28000 35 1727

PLACEMENT OF FERTILIZER 25000 42 600

Using GPS equipment 25000 33 762

Reduction of pesticide usage due to the fact that with some enviornmental changes we did there was a increase in the auxiliar fauna 25000 250 100

Ability to supply Waitrose with potatoes 20000 38 520

being able to supply multiples 20000 1,000 20

GPS soil analysis has targeted fertiliser application 18,000 30 600

Using GPS precision farming technique for applying phosphate/potash and lime with variable rate spreadersThis has led to developing a contract spreading business covering 5000 additional acres 17000 85 200

Significant environmental benefits

Membership develops more environmental awareness

“I’m sure it has helped change my attitude and helped cement some of those ideas in my head. It has progressed my attitude to the environment,

rather than let it get stale”

Visible benefits for wildlife: bird species, field margin flora, new features Increasing benefits to soils and water.

More environmental benefits

Environmental regulations“It provides a checklist for your regulatory

requirements and gives you peace of mind”

“It’s a good vehicle to make sure that you are

up to scratch with all the legislation”

“The audit pricks your conscience where you are not doing something right. If you tick all

the boxes it gives you peace of mind and you know you don't have to worry”

Farming can be a solitary occupation, but these LEAF members feel proud and strongly connected with their local community

Significant social benefits“LEAF has had a big impact on my communication skills. I am often asked to talk to

groups and feel confident in doing this now”.

“The group that has been particularly rewarding was a group of inner city children. I shall never forget: I took

them into an open field and they were absolutely overawed with the sense of space, the thing we take for

granted. They were hopping and skipping”

“Although the Open Day is absolutely exhausting and you are drained by the end of it, it is really satisfying to see the

level of enjoyment”

More social benefits“People have found us more approachable, people will stop and talk and

have a look over the fence at the cows”

“We have had groups around and talk to people that we wouldn’t have normally expected to talk to; and it gives people a face and someone to

talk to if they see something that they are not sure about. They feel more comfortable about coming to you to ask about it, rather than going away

and grumbling about it”

“The more of the general public we can get out on the farm and reconnect them with where their food comes from, the better. Over the last 20 years

people have forgotten”

In Summary some ideas

Closing the Yield Gap?

Farm more sustainably

Do dig a little deeper

Gross Margin – look at inputs

“Horizon Scan”

Innovations for efficiency

Sustainable Intensification

Is there a marketing opportunity?

• LEAF is an integrated organisation

– Developing and progressing IFM

– Helping farmers adopt environmental responsible farming

– Helping supply chains inform the consumer of how their food is produced

LEAF makes a difference

Take action make a difference