An agroforestry system could help your farm to become both more productive and more sustainable.

As we begin to feel the effects of climate change, farmers are under pressure to make their business’ more sustainable.

Combined with the impending changes the industry may face as result of Brexit, these are uncertain times for farmers.

new handbook published in collaboration with the Farm Woodland Forum and the Soil Association, has hailed agroforestry as a solution for both increasing farm productivity and making farms more sustainable. 

We’ve looked at what agroforestry is and how it can benefit your farm and the wider environment.

What is agroforestry?

Agroforestry is the process of growing trees or shrubs within or around farmland.

Incorporating trees into farmland has numerous benefits for both the environment and the farmer.

Environmental benefits of agroforestry

  • Helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Habitat for wildlife.
  • Improves biodiversity.
  • Improves soil quality.

Benefits of agroforestry for the farmer

  • Improves welfare of livestock.
  • Improves soil quality.
  • Creates a microclimate for crops.
  • Additional income from fruits and nuts from trees.
  • Additional income from timber later down the line.
  • Replace imports with homegrown products (e.g. mulch, fuel wood, animal bedding, timber posts)

Increasing your farm’s income with agroforestry

According to the new handbook, improving animal welfare with trees can boost farm productivity, resulting in a 17% increase in milk production and a 50% reduction in lamb mortality. It finds that agroforestry systems are often 30% more productive than monocultural systems.

Financing agroforestry

Here at Richmond Asset Finance, we offer a variety of agricultural finance products to help your agricultural business grow. We can provide effective farm finance strategies for various sized projects.

To find out more about our farm finance options, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, give our team a call on 0113 288 3277.