Low input for maximum gain: Exploring livestock systems in the UK and Europe – take two.

Extensive, regenerative, organic, short-term leys, permanent pasture, species-rich swards, herbal leys... The options when it comes to low-input systems are incredible. Join National Sheep Association (NSA), Exmoor Hill Farming and Neil Cole (Dartmoor Hill farmer) to discuss your options.

Location: The Prince of Wales Inn, Princestown (for lunch and talks) followed by The Old Prison Farm, Dartmoor Hill Farm by kind permission of Neil Cole and Family.

Date: Friday 9^th December 2022

Time: Join us for lunch at 12.15pm, followed by farm visit at 1.45pm.

For the past two years, NSA has been the sole UK partner in an EU-funded, Turkish-led research project called E-Organic Erasmus. The main aim of the project was to bring together countries to share good practice techniques when it comes to livestock farming, with a particular focus on organic. Collaboration between partners in Italy, Spain and Turkey has allowed NSA to send two members to each of the partner countries to experience conventional, regenerative and organic farming methods abroad. Nicola Noble, NSA Project Manager joined some of the excursions and will enlighten attendees on the key messages learnt.

Nicola Noble, NSA Project Manager, comments: “The project has increased NSA’s international presence, offering greater opportunity to improve the global standards of sheep farming. At a time where farmers are battling weather extremes alongside sustainability challenges, learning from those already affected by long hot summers, periods of extreme drought and flash floods can only be of benefit.”

Mrs Noble will cover:

• Introduction to the Erasmus project
• Role of regen and organic in sustainable farming systems
• Take home messages from UK and international travels
• Links to wider sector (policy, environment, role of low input systems)]

After lunch, join Neil Cole and Family on their Dartmoor sheep and beef hill farm where they are using native breeds and grazing Dartmoor ponies. They are tenants of the Duchy and exercise their common rights and run a well-established horse livery. They are incorporating some environmental experiments on their farm particularly around increasing habitats for ground nesting birds. Tom Stratton, Duchy of Cornwall will also be joining us on-farm This is a great opportunity to hear from an upland farmer to share knowledge and hear about the opportunities and challenges faced amongst the Dartmoor farming community.

Booking is essential to pre order lunch by Wednesday 7^th December. A copy of the menu can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. Please let us know your meal choice when booking. To book contact Ian May on ian@nationalsheep.org.uk or 07913043234, or Katherine Williams at Exmoor Hill Farming  Network on admin@ehfn.org.uk or 07970 795808.

You can turn up on the day but lunch will not be pre-ordered.