INtroduction:
We’ve been surveyed and interviewed by a number of national organisations lately around the issue of climate change and its impact on farming. There is a consensus that weather patterns are shifting for farmers here in Wales and it does create some challenges as we work that land. We thought it would be interesting to share how climate change is shaping the way that we farm.
Our aim on the farm is to achieve a balance between nature and the process of farming. Central to that is implementing ways of farming that develop resilience and in the face of the challenges that nature throws at us. In the recent past the shape of those challenges has changed.
Working With The Seasons:
The Welsh countryside offers a patchwork quilt of green fields, where sheep graze and (less and less) crops sway in the breeze. However, beneath the bucolic scene lies a delicate balance, one that's increasingly threatened by erratic weather. Traditionally, Welsh farmers have worked with the rhythm of the seasons. Farmers sow seeds in spring, harvest in autumn, and hunker down for the winter chill. Yet, climate change has disrupted this traditional tempo, throwing in unexpected twists and turns.
Exposure and Adaptation:
Farming has become more and more specialised over the years which has created vulnerability to one-off shocks. Our climate, is becoming a source of these one-off shocks, especially in farms that focus on high intensity production. For example, if you focus all your efforts into breeding cattle, and there is a drought, then your food source (grass), becomes scarce. If you have field after field of wheat, weeks of heavy rain can waterlog and saturate the ground, ruining the crop. Here, at Slade Farm Organics, we are highly diversified. We have a low stock density with multiple enterprise; while bad weather impacts, it doesn’t impact equally. The diversification and low intensity spreads the risk.
The Three Day Rule:
Traditionally, British farming is built on the weather changing every three days. Unfortunately, over the last decade this has significantly changed. We are now experiencing long periods of settled weather patterns. As a result, our Spring/Summers are significantly long and dry, not necessarily hot. This is a problem for crop establishment. We do not have water storage facilities to use for irrigation. Likewise, we do not have mighty rivers to siphon from, like in the USA. The results can be devastating, with weaker crops and smaller yields.
Of course, in the Autumn/Winter the complete opposite happens. Planting in Winter and Spring is becoming frustratingly more difficult. Long periods of rain prevent cultivation and ploughing. Getting things into the ground is increasingly challenging. The volume of rain can lead to ground saturation and erosion. Sadly, these have long term impacts on the land, affecting the level of nutrients and therefore crop yields. Winter 2023/24 recorded the eighth wettest winter on record since records began. In addition to this, The Met Office reports that we have just experienced the second mildest winter on record, behind 2016, with hours of sunshine significantly set at 90% compared to 1991-2000 average.
Adaptation and Resilience:
We must adapt, as with all systems we must deal with the externalities if we are to be here for the next generation. Here at Slade Farm, we are investing in rainwater harvesting as a minimum sensible investment. Likewise, we are growing more and more drought resistant crop varieties such as Lucerne, chicory and rye mixes that have much greater rooting depth. (Please click on the link here to The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), to learn more about it in detail.) These types of crops build in resilience, this means even when the rest of the earth is parched, our forage crops (food for the animals) are still in a healthy condition.
Additionally, we have changed the time of year we plant some of our crops. Some of our Spring planting has shifted into late Summer and early Autumn, to ensure a proportion of the land is in production, in case of a wet Spring. How are other farmers coping with climate change and its impact on farming? From investing in renewable energy, to diversifying their income streams, they're finding innovative ways to weather the storm. And let's not forget the crucial role of community support networks, where farmers come together to share knowledge and lend a helping hand in times of need.
Looking to the Future:
We can’t control the climate here on our own. The reality is that it will continue to change, presenting new challenges and opportunities for Welsh farms. At Slade Farm we keep innovating to try and find ways of making the weather and the seasons predictable. For us, it seems that we are entering into a place where we have dry and wet seasons. Hopefully, with determination, innovation, and a healthy dose of Welsh resilience, we maintain and create a future of productive fields here in South Wales.
Conclusion:
A small glimpse into climate change and its impact on in South Wales. The fate of our farmers is deeply intertwined with the health of our planet. By supporting sustainable agriculture and advocating for climate action, we can all play a part in shaping a brighter future for Welsh agriculture and beyond. Thank you for reading. If you would like to learn more about Slade Farm Organics and our produce, please click here.