About the project
Integrating animals into crop production and forestry has several benefits. It can reduce the need for purchased inputs, improve soil structure, microbial activity and water infiltration and increase biodiversity. The project disseminates knowledge about how animal husbandry is integrated, especially into the cultivation of field crops, with a focus on the interaction between animals and soil, as well as mobile solutions for animal keepers. Both traditional solutions, such as grazing catch crops, and more innovative methods such as mobile chicken coops and grazing winter cereals are presented. Possibilities of using animals in commercial forests for clearing grass and weeds, as well as forest grazing, are also examined in the project. A continuing education course (in Swedish), seminars and a study trip are arranged, and publications aimed at farmers are published during the project period.Project goal
The main objective of the project is to increase the integration of grazing animals in arable farming and forestry in Western Uusimaa. To achieve this, information about the benefits and risks needs to be presented, the level of knowledge about animals in farming systems needs to be increased, and workable solutions for cooperation between livestock keepers and crop growers and forest owners need to be found. The general public also needs information that animals can have a positive impact on crop farming, forestry, soil health and biodiversity.The objectives of the project are therefore to:
• Increase farmers' and foresters' knowledge about grazing animals in farming systems, and about reading and analyzing the impact of grazing on the soil and the cultivated crop or forest.
• Increase livestock keepers' knowledge about sustainable grazing methods that benefit soil health, as well as about mobile solutions that make it easy to move animals.
• Create new collaborations and break existing prejudices about grazing animals in arable farming and forestry.
UN's Sustainable Development Goals
Ulrika Dahlberg
Project Leader