herbal leys

Joe Dufosee enjoys working with his family on their large organic livestock unit, the majority of which is rented from the Ministry of Defence

Keeping copies of seed invoices and photographic evidence of field operations is advised when establishing herbal leys under Government schemes

David Morley, head of conservation and environment at H&H Land and Estates outlines some of the key changes to the options available

In April this year, farmers across England were receiving £74.2 million for establishing and maintaining herbal leys – the action known as SAM3

Herbal leys have recently gained popularity, but many farmers have been growing species-rich swards for years

Angus-based farmers, Neil and Jillian McEwan, researched various livestock possibilities before deciding that goats were the best option for them. Lynsey Clark finds out more.

Growers who signed up for herbal leys as one of the 23 options from the 2023 Sustainable Farming Initiative programme should seek advice on the suitability of mixtures being sold as ‘SAM3 compatible

Increasingly, farmers are sharing their positive results of establishing and grazing livestock on herbal leys, with many reporting increased production and reduced need for input

Profitability and resilience were key drivers for Stuart Johnson, who was named Farm Carbon Toolkit’s 2023 Soil Farmer of the Year, when implementing a low-input system on the family farm in Northumberland

Herbal leys offer multiple benefits to health and resilience in sheep and beef systems, but what about dairy? And importantly, what impact do they have on milk production?