Abstract
The ultimate aim of this research is to provide information on integrated farm management (IFM) that farmers can use to improve their contribution to biodiversity and landscape management at the same time as maintaining, or even improving, their economic sustainability. This project aims to draw together information generated by previous and ongoing research projects, to develop guidelines and approaches for use by livestock farmers to develop IFM plans for their businesses. The livestock systems to be included in this study include cattle (beef and dairy), sheep, pigs, and poultry (broilers and layers of various species). Intensive (e.g. indoors) and extensive (outdoors/free range) systems will be incorporated, and conventional and organic farming systems will be considered. This project will summarise the actions that farmers can/should carry out as part of their farming system to ensure that the impact that they have on the environment is minimised, and that biodiversity is encouraged. Examples of the consequences of particular actions will be given, with anticipated outcomes, and various scenarios will be tested using a range of modelling techniques. Under the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy reform in June 2003, farmers were set to receive direct subsidy payments for cross-compliance, i.e. activities that increased the environmental, animal health, and public health benefits of farming. This has encouraged many farmers to take a more holistic approach to farming and land management, because the aim of the farming system is no longer to produce food at more or less any cost. Integrated farm management systems view the farm as a whole, and encourage the use of natural resources in a sustainable way to produce a cost-effective product at the same time as safeguarding animal welfare and enhancing the biodiversity in the farm ecosystem. A number of IFM components in livestock systems need to be considered, including animal health, animal husbandry, forage and feeding systems, animal breeding policies, farm hygiene standards, and the quality of farm buildings. A good IFM system can give the farmer perspective and focus on their requirements for land and animal management, setting objectives to enable good quality livestock products to be produced with minimal environmental impact. The 'IFM wheel' is widely adopted principle that helps the farmer to focus on the issues that are important in sustaining his or her business in an environmentally sound framework at the same time as delivering a profit to enable the business to function in an ecomonically sustainable way.
United Kingdom