Last week, First Milk hosted Owen Marlow, Brian Longman and a group of their colleagues from Defra at one of their member farms to explore the innovative work the company is doing around regenerative farming.
The farm visit showcased the impactful benefits of regenerative practices on soil health, carbon sequestration, water management and nature recovery.
A First Milk spokesperson said, “At its core, regenerative farming improves soil health, enhancing the water and nutrient cycle as well the soil food web. Healthy soils are nutrient-dense resulting in nutrient-dense crops, with better yields and reduced erosion and runoff, leading to improved water quality on and off the farm. The enhanced food web increases biodiversity above and below ground, helping to restore the significant loss of biodiversity we have seen in recent decades.”
The Defra team dived deep into demonstrations, witnessing first-hand the transformative power of rotational grazing and sward diversity. They even got their hands dirty to learn about the vital role of the dung beetle in enhancing our ecosystems. Engaging discussions ensued on environmental stewardship, climate adaptation, and the importance of farm data in measuring our progress.
First Milk’s spokesperson said, “A big thank you to the Defra team for dedicating their time to understanding the current and future potential of regenerative farming in the UK. Your curiosity and insights are invaluable as we continue to drive positive change in agriculture.”
First Milk has also recently announced that from 1st October 2024 its member milk price will increase by 0.6ppl to 42.6ppl for its manufacturing standard litre, including the member premium.
Commenting on the announcement, Mike Smith, Vice Chairman and Farmer Director, said, “We are delighted to raise our milk price once again, which we are able to do because of the continued healthy performance of our business. This is more welcome news for our members as they head into the Autumn, following challenging on-farm conditions from Spring and all through Summer.”