In this month’s episode of the BASIS Agronomy Matters podcast we are looking at a slightly different area of UK agriculture, livestock production. In particular we are focussing on how introducing livestock into an arable farming system can provide significant benefits, and also what potential risks and limitations need to be avoided. Our first guest is Liz Genever, independent consultant within the UK sheep industry, who discusses how utilising sheep alongside cover crops and other herbal leys can provide significant benefits especially in terms of developing a sustainable farming system. We then spoke to Mhairi Dawson who is a Research & Development Manager at Barenbrug UK. Mhairi explained how introducing grassland into an arable rotation can help reduce grassweed pressure and improve soil health as well as providing some top tips on grassland management and agronomy. Our final guest was Ian Richards, an independent consultant who is also a member of the BASIS FACTS committee. Ian is an expert in crop nutrition and explained how to maximise the potential benefits from applications of livestock manure whilst ensuring we protect the wider environment and meet current legislative requirements.

This months podcast is focussing on livestock production following the launch of the Register of Sheep Advisers (RoSA) on the 1st of June. The aim of this new Professional Register is to provide UK sheep farmer with appropriate advice from recognised professionals who can support them to develop sustainable farming systems which meet the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental protection. RoSA has been created in collaboration with the National Sheep Association, to find out more or to become a member of RoSA please visit www.sheepadvisers.co.uk.

BASIS Professional Register and RoSA Members can find out how to claim 1 CPD point for listening to this podcast at the end of the episode. You can access your members area through the BASIS and RoSA websites respectively.