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Agriculture, Conservation, Earth and Leaf, Economics, Education, Environment, Latest Posts, Slider Posts
Sustainability in Farming
When I talk about sustainability in farming, which I do a lot, I don’t just mean looking after the environment and reducing global warming. I mean making sure farming communities see sustainability in farming.
They need to earn a decent living whilst caring for our precious countryside.
And currently, in the UK, farming patently isn’t sustainable at all. The average age of a farmer has been rising steadily for years and is now about 65. That tells you something is wrong.
I met this tree alone in a field in Dentdale in July 2023. It is vast. A Sycamore, the girth 4 metres plus, putting it at about 450 years old. It is grazed to the base yet one or two epiphytes cling to its upper branches. It should be the centre-piece of a rehabilitated woodland, surrounded by Sessile Oak, Hazel and Birch. I registered it with the Woodland Trust that night. They were unaware of its existence.
The exact definition of sustainability bears some consideration;
“The property of being environmentally sustainable; the degree to which a process or enterprise is able to be maintained or continued while avoiding the long-term depletion of natural resources”. {OED}
That process or enterprise includes the farm, the farmer and the farming system.
In time our Shepherds of the Trees project aims to provide exactly what we are talking about – “Sustainability in Farming“
We also have a website dedicated specifically to the project at “www.shepherdsofthetrees.org”
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Feed or Save Our World ?
Feed or Save Our World; that is the question asked by farmers. The simple academic answer is we must save the world, then we can feed the humans.
In trying harder and harder simply to feed ten billion we are destroying our home. It must also be pointed out that it is a shared home. We now know we cannot survive without the ecological support of stable, ancient and complex ecosystems. These ecosystems need land and water every bit as much as we do.
Here are a few hard facts; Climate change is already responsible for more migration than conflict; Land is a scarce resource and becoming scarcer by the day; It is farmers who feed the vast majority of the humans on the planet and most pertinent of all It is also farmers who feed the majority of mammals and birds on the planet.
This letter has also been published as an Earth and Leaf blog which you can find at https://earthandleaf.org/feed-or-save-our-world/
So why pay to join Earth and Leaf?
Have a look at this youtube presentation – The Ninth Revolution
So which is the choice – Feed or Save Our World ?
Here is a link to our page about Direct Messages on Climate Change
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Methane Emissions Must be Eliminated as a No 1 Priority
Short term gains in the fight to save the planet can be made if we understand that dealing with methane emissions must be a priority 1st is best. Methane is rapidly heating up our world and some sources we can directly control.
Its is fact that Carbon Dioxide does most of the long term damage, but it is also true that Methane is over thirty times more potent than CO2. Methane also leaves the atmosphere fairly quickly, Carbon Dioxide does not.
So, where are the sources of Methane emissions?
Agriculture, decomposition of waste and fossil fuels – these are under our control and account for 60% of the Methane in the atmosphere. The majority of this is agriculture, namely livestock farming.
Wetlands are the largest natural source and there is little we can do there. However wetlands absorb methane too and vast amounts of Carbon Dioxide. Wetlands are also critical for biodiversity and home to a disproportionately large number of species:
All about Methane Emissions
Methane (CH4) is a powerful greenhouse gas, and is the second-largest contributor to climate warming after carbon dioxide (CO2). A molecule of methane traps more heat than a molecule of CO2, but methane has a relatively short lifespan of 7 to 12 years in the atmosphere, while CO2 can persist for hundreds of years or more.
Methane comes from both natural sources and human activities. An estimated 60% of today’s methane emissions are the result of human activities. The largest sources of methane are agriculture, fossil fuels, and decomposition of landfill waste. Natural processes account for 40% of methane emissions, with wetlands being the largest natural source. (Learn more about the Global Methane Budget.)
The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled over the past 200 years. Scientists estimate that this increase is responsible for 20 to 30% of climate warming since the Industrial Revolution (which began in 1750).
Why is it that dealing with methane emissions is so critical?
We can control methane production from our agriculture simply by stopping mass production of beef and dairy products. We must still focus on Carbon Dioxide as well, but Methane should be a short term target.
Learn more about Methane heating up our world and what we know by clicking on the links below:
Our Earth and Leaf World Explained
What we now know about climate change
Also have alook at our post on Net Zero and Carbon Credits
This is why dealing with Methane Emissions is so important.
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Is Biomass Really a Sustainable Fuel ?
Is Biomass a sustainable fuel ? That’s the question.
Ash trees must not be used for firewood.
There is a good biomass case study right on our doorstep here in Yorkshire. Drax power station.
Drax was responsible for three per cent of the UKs total carbon emissions last year.
Our last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe on Soar was responsible for a quarter of that. This power station closed on Monday 30th September 2024.
Frankie Mayo, an analyst at Ember, said: “Burning wood pellets can be as bad for the environment as coal; supporting biomass with subsidies is a costly mistake.”
Fact – burning wood pellets for power generation releases more emissions for each unit of electricity generated than burning gas or coal
Is Biomass a Sustainable Fuel ?
There are some biomass articles in our Document Library relating to Drax:
If you want to learn more about what you can do change our world, join Earth and Leaf
Is Biomass a Sustainable Fuel ? – Q and A
Question
Where do the Drax biomass wood pellets come from?
Answer
North America and Canada, a little from the UK
Conclusion
How much Carbon Dioxide does Drax produce each year?
Drax directly produces 11.5 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per year.
This figure does not include the millions of tonnes of CO2 released by felling the forests. It certainly does not include the CO2 generated building the MV Ultra Yorkshire whose sole purpose in transporting pellets from North America to the UK. Not sustainable!
How much of the electricity used in the UK does Drax produce?
Drax produces 6% of the UK electricity demand.
The jury is out. However if we spent the subsidy on home insulation we might not need the 6% of electricity produced from Drax.
I conclude in answer to the question – Is Biomass a Sustainable Fuel ? No !
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Climate Change – What we Now Know
This topic “Climate Change – What we Now Know” is all good solid science. Predictions indicating what might happen in the future vary. We are now absolutely certain the 1.5 degree target has already been breached.
Climate change is disrupting stable and ancient weather patterns.
There are some striking things happening in our UK environment. For example Ospreys nationally have had an appalling season, unable to feed young as fishing very difficult and beset by bad weather. Many nests have completely failed.
Bats this year are starving and will suffer a population crash. They are unable to feed due to lack of insects. This is partly bad weather, but significantly river pollution with sewage is a major factor. Insects in general are having a bad time year on year due to habitat destruction, herbicide and pesticide use and poor weather.
Of course we will have good and bad weather years as part of the natural cycle. Climate change is not natural. However, our environment is not resilient any more because we have destroyed so much natural habitat. This is especially the case in the UK. One of the most wildlife depleted countries in the world.
A consequence of this is that our insect life cannot recover. Our bees are in crisis because they are dependent on one queen bee surviving the winter. So the population will vary from year to year. Early spring flowers like dandelions and others need to be left alone. Do not use herbicides, do not mow your grass or at least not all of it. Seed banks in soil can last several years but not forever. We tidy up too much. We cut down dead trees then stupidly use them as firewood. Please let them decay slowly.
For example, our local council in Harrogate now leave uncut areas to let wildflowers grow. An applaudable strategy, but the seeds are not there. So it looks untidy, we can help. Put some seeds back, its easy.
No mow May is commendable, but it should be no mow summer.
So where do we go from here on Climate Change?
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Bottom Trawling Destroys the Seabed and Must End Now
Lets examine the reasons why bottom trawling destroys the seabed and must end. Ill start with this report from New Scientist – Bottom Trawling.
This article jumped out at me last night. I now won’t be eating fish caught by bottom trawling. My overarching concern about trawling is the utter destruction – trawling destroys the seabed, so similar to burning down the rainforest. Now this, no surprise here:
So What are the 3 Reasons why Bottom Trawling Destroys the Seabed and Must End?
First of all – sheer bloody destruction. Bottom trawling destroys the seabed tearing up corals, anenomes, sea grass, kelp and anything growing in its path.
Secondly it stirs up sediment on the sea floor. This releases huge amounts of methane and carbon dioxide. Carbon is sequestered in sediment on the sea bed.
Lastly it doesn’t just kill the fish we take to eat. It also kills crustaceans, by catch, immature fish and molluscs. This is why the gulls follow trawlers.
and whilst on the subject of boats I won’t ever be on a cruise either
And then today, 3rd June 2024 we learn that Scampi isn’t what we think it is and it certainly isn’t fished in a sustainable manner https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wwrzv2ryjo
3 Unquestionable Reasons Why Trawling is Bad – see this article on trawling and the EU
NEWSFLASH 24/09/24 – Protected areas in Scotland still at risk
If you want to know more about Earth and Leaf click here
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Ghost Bats
Ghost Bats are under serious threat. This highlights a huge issue that the human race has in the fight against climate change. Entitlement. We must change our attitudes on land ownership. We must challenge the big five world agribusinesses.
Five large multinationals dominate the agricultural value chain: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Bunge, Cargill, China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC).
The article below tells you all you need to know about how self interested land owners think they an do what they like with the land.
Not Another Ghost – Surely This Has To Stop . . .
When are the human race going to stop and think about their actions?
Ghost Bats at roost
We need to reach a point where removal of any trees any where on our precious world is treated as a crime against humanity, a war crime. It is that serious. This habitat cannot be replaced or moved or offset with some carbon credits.
The proposal is to clear 6000 Hectares of forest in the Northern Territory. Australia’s environment minister is Tanya Plibersek. She is doing nothing to prevent this.
How do we save Ghost Bats?
Education. The Australian government must stop landowners behaving like this. Join us at Earth and Leaf. We will contact both the landowner and the Australian government.
FROM OLD FRONT PAGE
These are rare Australian Ghost Bats. Their habitat is being destroyed to create farmland to graze cattle. As you explore Earth and Leaf you will realise quickly that we must graze far fewer cattle and stop eating red meat.
Sixty percent of the weight of mammals on earth are farm animals grown as food for us. Seventy percent of the birds on our world are on farms grown for food for us. Sixty per cent of farm land on earth is used to grow feed for farmed animals and birds to feed us.
In conclusion, we must free up much of that precious land. Global warming is the single most serious issue affecting our world. If we are to survive, we must reverse global warming. Join us to find out what you and your community can do !
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Crofting is Sustainable Farming
This post explains why Crofting is Sustainable Farming, particularly on farming with beef and sheep. Why?
Firstly it is important to state that crofting is a developed traditional farming system that makes best use of it’s local environment for farming. The fact it is relatively not harmful for wildlife is coincidental and crucial. The only fertiliser used traditionally is seaweed. That’s fine within reason.
It is also coincidental because support of crofting is national policy in Scotland.
How is it that Crofting is sustainable farming?
There is a great Blog from the Soil Association about new Crofter, Helen O’Keefe 
Sustainable Farming can be Achieved in Wales -
A Farmers Perspective, Where do we Go from Here
From a farmers perspective times are hard. Not least, the weather has been awful for the last year.
However that is not the only issue. We live in changing times where the guaranteed subsidies available under the European Union are being removed. Alternative programs are being put in place such as the ……………………………. and the Welsh ……………………………
This is why we are developing the Shepherds of the Trees project.
A Farmers Perspective
Times are changing. The weather is more challenging. Our relationship with the EU has changed. Meat consumption is falling. Certain industries, namely sheep, beef and dairy are highly inefficient uses of land and energy.
Is it really that hard to find an external link for farming
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Sheep Farming in Wales, Its Time for a Change
Lets Revolutionise Sheep Farming in Wales and continue to shape the character of the nations environment. A lot of upland Wales is unsuitable for any other type of farming. I have spent quite a bit of time in Wales over the years, working in the farming sector. I always found our Welsh farmer customers open to new ideas and far more interested in marketing and new tech than others in the UK.
So here we are. Farmer protests at the Senedd. Earth and Leaf wants to work with farmers. The Sustainable Farming Scheme is a great move towards restoring habitat across Wales. This is a great article by Dr Malcolm Smith. He makes some excellent points about subtle changes that would help farmers. The scheme also needs explaining better to farmers.
Lets Revolutionise Sheep Farming in Wales and Benefit its Rural Communities too
This mirrors the same structure found in England and Scotland. Hill ewes such as the Welsh Mountain are kept on high ground. Draft ewes are sold at market to farms lower down the hill to be crossed with Blue Faced Leicesters and other breeds to produce mules. These are again moved further down the hill to be crossed with terminal sires to produce fat lambs.
https://meatpromotion.wales/en
Time for Change
We need to look at this traditional structure of the industry. The hill and draft ewe system is no longer necessary except to maintain communities. So, we must use just transition to help maintain a thriving countryside. This is what we should do !
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Cows Milk in our Diet – the Future
The future of cows milk in our diet is up for discussion. It is the most consumed dairy product in the world by volume and in the UK is cheaper than bottled water. By an accident of genetics, Caucasian peoples are able to digest cows milk, but many are intolerant to some degree. In contrast Asian origin people are, post infancy, unable to digest cows milk.
Founder of Earth and Leaf – Iain Dunn
“My career is founded on milk. Early on this was through the family farm. We milked about 36 cows to a bucket in traditional cowsheds. These cows frequently lived to 12 or more years of age. Later I attended Agricultural College and then University where I studied Agricultural Sciences. I am still learning about milk thirty six years later. I have spent most of my working life in the dairy industry mostly with cows but also with goats.”
Cows Milk in our Diet
Cow’s milk is not a great food source for vast numbers of people on our planet. There are good genetic reasons. This article from the BBC explains why; Why (some) humans have evolved to drink milk. This makes the future of cow’s milk a more interesting topic. It is a good reason to look at goat’s milk as an alternative. Why we Farm Cows and not Goats . . .
How is the future of goats milk compared to the future of cow’s milk?
It is good and that is a blessing for our planet. There is no future for cows milk in our diet, but it is also worth pointing out that many of the alternatives are unsustainable too.
Why not Cows ?
Quite simply it is an incredibly inefficient way to farm.
