First Milk members demonstrate commitment to regenerative farming
Image: Mark Brooking, First Milk sustainability director, discussing plant diversity with members at a regenerative farming workshop.
First Milk in Scotland announced that more than 90 per cent of its members have signed up to its regenerative farming programme, representing more than 96 per cent of its members’ milk. Members are committing to almost 131,000 field-level regenerative interventions across more than 78,000 hectares of land, the company says.
These members have each submitted regenerative plans for their farms, using a unique digital mapping tool. They have committed to implement a range of regenerative interventions for individual fields or the whole farm in the year ahead. Each intervention must support one of the five regenerative farming principles – livestock integration, minimise soil disturbance, protect soil surface, encourage plant diversity, maintain living roots.
First Milk and its members view this as the first stage on the route towards regenerative farming. It is aligned with a holistic vision to produce nutritious dairy products in a way which enhances water, nutrient and carbon cycling, relies less on external inputs, improves biodiversity and respects the well-being of animals and people.
Mark Brooking, sustainability director at First Milk says, “The support for our regenerative farming programme has been amazing, with most members attending our practical workshops and more than 90 per cent of all members making individual field-level commitments. When combined with our innovative soil carbon analysis programme operating with Agricarbon, we are well-placed to achieve our target of sequestering an additional 100,000t CO2e per year by 2025, as well as enhancing biodiversity and improving water and nutrient cycling.
“Together, our members are implementing regenerative practices on a land area greater than the equivalent of Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol combined.This is a fantastic start, and we look forward to supporting and encouraging members further as we continue our regenerative journey together to show dairy farmers can be part of the climate solution.”