On Friday, Prince Charles, a vocal proponent of organic farming and patron of the Soil Association, Maesllwyni Farm in Wales.

The organic livestock farm was hosting a field lab as part of the Duchy Future Farming Programme that will attempt to give farmers tangible measurables and real information about multi-species leys, which in turn will help influence the how the group involved manage their farms.

The field lab model, which is currently being championed by the Soil Association, was pioneered in South America. It involves groups of farmers banding together to trial innovative and often very practical solutions to problems they face, which they themselves have identified. This ‘DIY’ method of research and implementation has gained momentum in recent years.
 
At Maesllwyni Farm, Dafydd Jones at is growing different species of grass, which will form the basis of the field lab and lead research into potential implications for finished lamb production.

Last week’s meeting involved 10 to 12 organic and non-organic farmers coming together to discuss how differences in the quality of grass leys could affect livestock production and to devise on-farm trials to be carried out over the next 12 – 18 months. The group were able to share experiences of establishing and managing grass leys for their own production systems and to learn from Dafydd’s experience of his multi-species leys and how he has reduced concentrates fed to sheep.

Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association commented on the trial, saying, “This new, ground breaking research at Maesllwyni will show farmers quantifiable results of the benefits of grass leys. Whilst the benefits of more diverse leguminous leys for organic arable farms is becoming well known, there is less evidence on the value of such leys within livestock production systems. The field lab is addressing this knowledge gap.”
 
The trials will initially run over a two year period and will include the expertise of a forage consultant and ruminant nutritionist to help to evaluate the different options in different conditions, identifying the potential for yield and animal performance. The feed value of a multispecies ley is likely to change throughout the year as different plants reach peak performance at different times. Learning about this will drive improvements in group member's farming systems.
 
Soil Association’s Liz Bowles said all farmers are invited to be part of the Duchy Future Farming Programme and join the network of famers sharing knowledge and researching new ideas.