Pembrokeshire Farm Implements Intercropping to Enhance Dairy Feed Quality

The trials at Berry Hill Farm are part of Farming Connect's 'Our Farms' programme, aiming to improve feed quality for dairy herds. By intercropping maize with runner beans and sunflowers, farmer Jonathan Evans hopes to increase the protein content of silage fed to his 220 cows.

During an open day event, topics such as undersowing maize, the use of bio-stimulants, and deploying ridging devices were discussed. The farm has also installed three robot milking machines as part of its infrastructure upgrades.

Jonathan Evans and his father Marc cultivate two blocks of land, sowing 24.29 hectares of maize with runner beans and another 6.88 hectares with both runner beans and sunflowers. This strategic planting aims to enhance the sustainability credentials of their feedstock.

The cultivation began between April and May using an Amazone Precea precision air seeder drill. The farm avoids using post-drilling sprays, instead opting for an experimental hoe to manage weeds, developed in collaboration with Riverlea.

The project contributes to sustainable land management by maximizing the efficiency of home-grown forage. This initiative not only aims to improve feed quality but also aligns with broader environmental sustainability goals.