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Trees in Farmland Survey

RobertReed

New Member
Hi! Can you help?

The future of farmland trees is likely to improve after Brexit. As farmers may be more inclined to plant trees, we need to pass on the lessons learnt.

> http://bit.ly/2LFyNlW

Thank you!


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Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
The link didn't work for me either.

I always plant trees and advise others to do the same. If a tree is in the wrong place, it doesn't take long with a chain saw to resolve the problem. Easy enough to shove a few saplings in an odd corner and it only takes a few minutes. Or just shove a few willow cuttings into a damp spot. Great cover, they look nice, and make a good fire when they are fit to fell.
 

BobTheSmallholder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
This video was a gamechanger for me, I just don't understand why big arable farms would take this approach. You still get your big wheat/barley/oat crop but you also get fruit/insects etc etc. If I ever get to buy land flat enough I'd be keen to have a few acres of the above planted between my trees, combine them then use them as animal feed.


 
Whilst not a big arable farm I can see numerous reasons why they may shy away from agro forestry.

Despite denials by advocates of the system tree roots will find any drains nearby and invade them thus causing expensive problems in the future to any in field system

Trees will cause some light shading so reduce yields but more seriously will compete for water and can cause crop failure within the root zone as I get in dry years from hedges.

It looks lovely on paper but the profit is dependent on making money from the trees. Fruit may seem obvious but that is a hyper professional industry now and not really suited to half arsed small lots of ungraded and unpacked fruit.

Like all things in life, if it looks too good to be true then you may have missed something.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
As a neighbour commented, "You'll get shelter from one tree".

I don't suppose anyone has calculated the comparable costs/benefits of the shelter to livestock behind a belt of trees compared to putting up a building. That's probably why more don't plant trees.
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
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