Synergies within the Produce Marketing Group
1) Business Financial Analysis
One of the first projects carried out by the Ecosystems Steering Group involved conducting a Farm Business Survey on a sample of farms participating in the Lamb Producer Group to assist them to become more aware of the costs associated with business management as well as allowing the farmers to benchmark their performance against other farmers in the group. This built on work undertaken by Technical Services Division (WAG) published in March 2009 looking at the impact of support payments made from central government and their effect upon profit levels. This study was carried out by looking at the data held by WAG on farm areas and all associated scheme payments be they SFP right through to old ESA schemes.
The survey provided information to the Ecosystem Services Group, on how important support payments are for those groups of farmers in maintaining existing habitats, landscapes and environmental features as well as potential modelling future agricultural support mechanisms, in light of changes to the CAP and Axis 2 (post 2013) may potentially impact on farm businesses. This will allow options to be developed where land management payments can be made based on Carbon and Water management prescriptions.
2) Carbon Footprinting of Farm Businesses.
Twenty Three farmers in the Cambrian Mountains have taken part in a pioneering project that has calculated the carbon footprint of their farm activities, leading to advice on how cuts in carbon emissions can be made. This carbon footprinting work carried out by Bangor University extends the scope of existing farm carbon footprint tools to include carbon fluxes in agricultural soils and natural vegetation on farms, as well as considering the carbon footprint of bought-in feeds and fertilizers. In most cases nitrous oxide (N20) provided the greatest proportion of GHGs emitted from farms, and overall levels of emissions varied with the amount of 'organic' soils that were on the farm. Emissions of methane are dominated by enteric fermentation from livestock and vary according to the type and numbers of stock on farm. The emissions related to direct inputs (e.g. fuel, electricity , fertilisers) to the farms were always low. Three farms sequestered more carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare and could be considered C-neutral or net C-sinks. None of the farm management changes modelled e.g. reducing stock number (for sheep and cattle) by 5% reduced farm footprints by more than %5%The modelled carbon sequestration options provided greater levels of change (up to 12% from adding either 1 hectare of woodland or 50 isolated trees per farm).
Bearing in mind the extensive nature of farm management systems in the Cambrian Mountains, these results will provide individual farms with information of their holding status on carbon sequestration. This research will strengthen the green and sustainable credentials of the region’s produce whilst assisting farmers participating in the Cambrian Mountains Lamb Producer Group to work towards the agreed Farmers Marketing Principles, which states "Farmers will aspire to reduce their Carbon Footprint". The findings of this work to be launched in September 2010 and will be used as a platform to explore new ways of reducing agricultural carbon footprints in the region as well as examining the role farms and land management can play in reducing emissions.
Summary of CMI Carbon Footprinting Project
3) Adaptive Landscapes Project - Cambrian Mountains Case Study
Background to this work
Climate change is predicted to cause major alterations in Wales’ landscapes and biodiversity over the next century. Higher temperatures, rising sea levels, wetter winters and drier but stormier summers will cause significant alterations to habitats and the distribution of species. These will put stresses on the different services that land provides to society, such as the provision of food, water, energy and the regulation of flooding. The Government wishes to ensure that action is taken to plan for, and reduce the impact of, these changes. There are few practical examples of how this should be done at a landscape scale. As a result, Defra has commissioned three case study projects, of which this is one, to model and assess the application of climate change adaptation principles in the landscape. The Leri, Ceullan, Clararch, Clettwr and Rheidol catchments on the western side of the Cambrian Mountains have been chosen as one of the case study areas because of the range of habitats encompassed from Pumlumon to the Dovey Estuary. This area has also been chosen because of the work the Cambrian Mountains Initiative is already doing with a group of farmers to build a secure future for their businesses in ways that deliver a range of functions and services from this high quality landscape.
Purpose of the study
This research will examine how theoretical changes in land use would impact on biodiversity and the ability of the landscape to adapt to climate change. The chosen area is being used as a case study area only which means that the research will not lead directly to changes in Government policy in this area. Instead it will contribute to guidance for policy makers and planners across England and Wales to help them to plan, create, maintain and adaptively manage landscapes that will enable biodiversity to adapt to climate change. This work is being carried out by a group of organisations including the Countryside Council for Wales, the Cambrian Mountains Initiative, Bangor University and Land Use Consultants. The research is due to finish in September 2010.
Summary of CMI Carbon Footprinting Project (45k)