Pasture For Life
@PastureForLife
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We champion the restorative power of grazing animals on pasture. Join us! ๐
UK
Joined April 2011
We're hiring for a forward-thinking Chair with an enthusiasm for nature friendly farming and the goods and services it generates that represent the best of our farmed landscapes. We are at a pivotal moment for PfL and the wider food and #farming sectors. 1/4
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We wrote a joint letter to the @guardian on recent comments on organic, pasture-fed farming systems @SusFoodTrust @LandworkersUK @BiodynamicUK @FFC_Commission @ofgorganic .
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From @Telegraph by @emmagatten ๐๐ in which UK's top adviser on #GlobalWarming Lord Debden says 'grass-grazed animals crucial for UK to tackle #climatechange.' Agree! RT if you do too! @SusFoodTrust @DefraGovUK #pasturefed #grainfree #regenerativeagriculture #regenag #reganuary
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The govt may argue the public will choose British so why worry BUT most meat in UK is sold unlabelled, often in catering environments. Importing lower quality food will impact those who don't have the time or money to work out where their food comes from #thisisnotlevellingup.
'The UK could be largely self sufficient in beef, but a trade deal with Australia will undercut our home-grown, environmentally friendly, high welfare beef producers'. Read Patrick Holden's full comment on the #AustraliaTradeDeal:.
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Congratulations Neil Heseltine @hilltopfarmgirl #pastureforlife farmer for winning @nationaltrust Farming with Nature award, plus 2 other awards!
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What's difference between grass-fed and Pasture for Life?.DEFRA say livestock only need to derive 51% of their diet from grass to be sold as โgrass fedโ. โPasture for Lifeโ Certification guarantees the meat has come from an animal raised 100% on pasture. Yup. >>100% #grainfree<<
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Inspiring message from @Riverford โs Guy Watson this week. Referencing their carbon emissions, just audited, he says โwe must resist pressure to offer chosen, timed delivery slots, which could nearly double emissions.โ Hope the big players are reading this: this is leadership
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Our farmers know their animals. This might be an unusually close encounter, but when cattle are happy, eating nothing but grass, free to move on a daily basis, enjoying the sunshine and the rain, they thrive. #pasturefed #animalwelfare #grassfed #knowyourfarmer #regenerativeag
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We're celebrating the launch of first UK-made 100% grass-fed Pasture for Life organic cheddar with @LyeCrossFarm at @Dairy_TechUK #pasturefed #grainfree #organic #delicious
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๐ Today we celebrate our 11th birthday! ๐ . Weโre delighted to share our new brand. This marks a significant moment in our history and is our response to the growing movement of those who recognise the restorative power of grazing animals on pasture. #PastureForLife
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Britain is a grassland topography, "If grasslands are to be rich and diverse they have to be grazed. " says David Attenborough in the third episode of #WildIsles on #grasslands.
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Supporting a local farm is supporting a way of life and the stewardship of the countryside. Buy local and seasonal for better quality food that backs local business with less food miles.
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Are you being misled? ๐ค .Here's some facts and findings on how #pasturefed and #grainfree cows and sheep do some pretty amazing things for the environment.
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The 'Pasture for Life' Certification Mark guarantees the meat is from animals that have only ever eaten grass and pasture. Type in the ID no on our website or scan the QR code pack to find out everything about the animal, the farmer + the farm. Now that is provenance. #grainfree
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Another #Agroforestry benefit is NUTRITION. All plants have different micro & macro nutrient profiles, with tree leaves & twigs often containing nutrients not found in most grasses, or in a higher concentration. This means by browsing, livestock can access these nutrients.
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๐งโ๐พ Benefits of pasture-fed farming; case study; since becoming Pasture for Life members in 2018 and certified since 2022, Sam and Becky Newington have cut costs, the fields are teeming with life and the cows are healthier than ever. ๐ฎ ๐ท. ๐
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Takeover Day 6: AGROFORESTRY . Iโm excited about this one - a massive part of what we do @howemill - integrating livestock and trees. There are loads of benefits to this approach which Iโll be covering today. #CowsInTrees
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"While few people yet realise it, we actually need to encourage increased production of grass-fed meat, since the most effective way to restore our degraded arable soils and wild pollinators is to re-introduce grass and grazing animals into cropland rotations.".
.@ChrisGPackham goes some way to redress the lack of balance in the meat debate and understands that ploughing pasture would be an ecological disaster. What does he suggest we do with the 2/3rds of the UK that is in pasture for sound environmental reasons?
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๐ NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS ๐ฅฉ. Our research team summarise a new research paper titled โThe nutritional value of meat should be considered when comparing the carbon footprint of lambs produced on different finishing dietsโ. 1/8.๐ฃ๏ธ โAs with all ruminants, if sheep consume a 100%.
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Our Head of Research, Nikki Yoxall, introduces our current #balegrazing research project. Six Pasture for Life farms across Scotland and England are exploring the practice of bale grazing for overwintering cattle in a project run by Pasture for Life, @IFarmers & @AHDB_BeefLamb
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Our very own member Sam Vincent @Vince_Rookery a dairy farmer from Dorset has been crowned the 2021 Livestock Soil Farmer of the Year. 100 cows and followers, all of his land is down to permanent pasture. It can be done! #regenerativeagriculture
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Twenty minutes old - new Mum already got the hang of it - she found a sheltered spot and this calf, a boy, will spend his life on pasture โฆ@PastureForLifeโฉ, so natural.
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๐พ๐ชฑ๐๐ชฒ๐ฟTwo thirds of both UK and global farmland is pasture. Pasture, and effectively managing the animals who graze upon it, is the first step towards revitalising the biodiversity in and on much of our farms and landscapes. 1/3
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Grass-fed? Pasture-fed? ๐ผ Grass can (and often will) refer to a monoculture, whereas pasture is a biodiverse habitat made up of multiple species. In the UK the term 'grass-fed' means an animal only has to be fed a 'majority' grass-fed diet (over 51%).
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Havenโt I seen that cattle produce more Greenhouse Gas emissions than ALL transportation? Animals fed on pasture only have few if any life cycle emissions. Why 100% #pasturefed livestock are part of the solution to #globalwarming. #regenerativeagriculture
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Today is World Environment Day and the launch of the UNโs Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. #GenerationRestoration. And today, we launch our own biodiversity showcase from 100% pasture-fed livestock farm systems. #farmingwithnature #soilhealth #biodiversity
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Pasture farmers - how are you coping with the dry conditions?? .Great discussion taking place on our member's forum with top tips being shared, plus experience from 1976. Get involved at .#drought18
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Imagine eating the same thing every day? Cows + sheep like variety too; multiple types of grass, herbs, flowers found in permanent grassland. Our farmers know all about diversity, for their animals it's a very varied menu. #pasturefedbeef #regenag #animalwelfare
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โCould this farm actually run without livestock on it? The answer to that is a definite no! Thereโs been an absolute transformative effectโฆitโs like waving a magic wandโฆthe whole thing comes to life!โ Founding member, certified #PFLA farmer John Turner.
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New research into #mobgrazing by @Rothamsted provides the strongest evidence yet that effective management of grazing systems is crucial, offering significant benefits for both farm productivity and the environment. ๐ #hownotthecow #cellgrazing #grazing
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What's difference between grass-fed and Pasture for Life?.DEFRA say livestock only need to derive 51% of their diet from grass to be sold as โgrass fedโ. โPasture for Lifeโ Certification guarantees the meat has come from an animal raised 100% on pasture. Yup. >>100% #grainfree<<
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๐ธ To really understand whether 100% pasture-fed farming improves the level of biodiversity on the land, we set out a framework & asked our member farmers to observe and record the nature on their farms. The results have been fascinating and impressive.
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The 'Pasture for Life' Certification Mark guarantees the meat is from animals that have only ever eaten grass and pasture. Type in the ID no on our website or scan the QR code pack to find out everything about the animal, the farmer + the farm. Now that is provenance. #grainfree
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100% #pasturefed ruminants should be seen as part of the solution to #globalwarming, not the problem. Read this for some key facts to counter polarising headlines: Image Ian Boyd @CotswoldBeef . #regenerativeagriculture #itsnothecowitsthehow
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Evidence from @RodaleInstitute decades long side by side plots comparing conventional, plant-organic and animal-organic make powerful case for ruminants in rotations on all metrics #ORFC21 #ORFCGlobal @RealFarmED
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We need to stop judging food and its associated carbon footprint by the kilo and by the calorie, and do it by its nutritional value instead. Michael Lee @ORFC this morning discussing the incredible nutritional value of animal-based foods. ๐.
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"We donโt flail our hedgerows, they are laid in the traditional, vernacular Carmarthenshire Flyer style, with mature trees fenced, left to grow, then harvested after some 15 to 18 years for firewood and wood chip." Link in bio. #biodiversity #pasturefed
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A Celebration of British Meadows. 5.30pm Friday 3rd July. Join us and @Love_plants ahead of this year's National Meadows Day for a webinar to see how they are being restored by farmers, landowners and communities with passion and creativity
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Psst, it's our birthday! 10 yrs old today. We'd love if it if you'd post a selfie video and say what the PFLA means to you. Use #PFLA10, tag @pastureforlife and tell the world whatโs special and important about the #PFLA. A pic will do too! #pasturefed #itsnotthecowitsthehow
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If youโre @Groundswellaguk today/tomorrow come and see the @firfarm mobile abattoir behind the Pasture for Life tent. The session on how farmers can safeguard access to abattoirs will be held there at 3pm @mckellyltd @SusFoodTrust @RBSTrarebreeds
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#itsnotthecowitsthehow In response to last night's BBC's programme 'Meat: A Threat to Our Planet' here's our own paper 'Pasture for Life: A solution to global warming'
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Top soil being washed away in #Herefordshire shown in our webinar on meadows and floodplains this evening. 3ft of soil lost from one large estate says Mark Wood. His job to fix it! #regenag #biodiversity Turn the arable flood plains back to grassland! #grazing #pastureforlife
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Weโre in Edinburgh tonight celebrating @Lescargot_Edin becoming the first fully certified Pasture for Life restaurant. Congratulations to Fred and team, weโre thrilled! #pastureforlife
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Day One: Good morning from @theethicaldairy in sunny south west Scotland! We will be your hosts on @PastureForLife's social media accounts this week, and we will be talking about #biodiversity through the lens of #Pasturefed, #organic, cow with calf dairy farming
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Last night we held our first farmer meeting on Orkney courtesy of #pastureforlife certified New Holland Farm and the Bown family - 50 farmers turned out, including from Shetland!
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Shocking stats from @WoodlandTrust at #orfc21 . Excess nitrogen is killing our woodlands. Similar story to @MerlinSheldrake last night. @ORFC
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Good morning folks! . @howemill here on day one of my social media takeover this week. Iโm the PFLA Research Coordinator & one of the Scotland Regional Facilitators ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ . Iโm based in Aberdeenshire on a small farm with #TheWeeMob . ๐ธClem Sandison
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Amazing visual from our #silvopasture session this morning @ORFC #ORFC19 #OFC19 .Thanks to @envirovisuals
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Stunning scene across Pasture for Life certified Hill Top Farm with their Belted Galloways grazing the frosted hills in the Yorkshire Dales. ๐โ๏ธ. ๐ธ @hilltopfarmgirl
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Time to stand up and thank Russ Carrington @CiderRuss for the huge role he's played in our birth, growth, fame, disruption, inspiration, certification and membership. We even named an award after him. Thank you Russ! #Pasturefed #PFLA10 #regenerativeag
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โRuminants are part of the carbon cycle: For every atom of carbon they emit. an atom of carbon has been removed from the atmosphere by the photosynthesising plant, prior to being eaten.' Thanks to @TommyVarden #PFLA member. 100% #Pasturefed #itsnotthecowitsthehow #IPCCreport
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โฆ@CotswoldBeefโฉ These 2 photos are the same field in winter 2020 and summer 2021. Showing the power of nature,we can outwinter our cows in wildflower meadows without worrying about damage,repairing itself to produce a wealth of wildflowers.#wildflowermeadows #biodiversity
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Weโre hiring! #PFLA needs #agroecological, #pasturefed advocate for role of Regional Facilitator to deliver events, #farmwalks, #workshops to regional group of farmers. It's p/t, #WestMidlands, #Southwest #Herefordshire, #Wessex groups. Interested? Mail charlotte@pfla.org.uk
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Curious, a passionate, advocate of #regenerativeagriculture, #soilhealth, nutrient dense food? Become a member of #PFLA. Weโre a movement, not only a certification standard. Friendly, events, an amazing forum, and we donโt bite. ๐
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Returning species on pasture-based farms ๐๏ธ ๐ธ๐ผ. PfL members, Rebecca and Stuart Mayhew, of @OldHallFm in Norfolk, discuss the multiple benefits from increasing the variety of species on their farm, including the #return of many species, through pasture-fed methods. 1/6
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"We donโt flail our hedgerows, they are laid in the traditional, vernacular Carmarthenshire Flyer style, with mature trees fenced, left to grow, then harvested after some 15 to 18 years for firewood and wood chip." Link in bio. #biodiversity #pasturefed
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"Our cattle are produced without any medication including antibiotics, wormers, minerals or supplements." The Hills of Edingley, certified Pasture Champions on #biodiversity. Inspiration for a new year. Link in bio. #pasturefed
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#NetZeroStrategy has failed to recognise the power of #agroecology + species-rich grasslands as a nature-based solution to #climatechange. Together we offer an alternative #vision. @SoilAssociation @UKSustain @SusFoodTrust @Love_plants.
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A big shout-out to Sara Gregson @TalkingGrass whose tireless PR gets us talked about. On board from the start, even before our official birth, she's a grass geek and her contribution to our last 10 years deserves to be celebrated. #Pasturefed #PFLA10 #regenerativeag
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15 years ago this land was dead. Now through careful planned grazing of #pasturefed cattle it is teaming with life
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1/2 We will fight on, partly by doing what we do best - producing 100% pasture-fed meat and milk - but also by trying to ensure consumers know what they are buying in this unnerving future we're heading towards. Labelling regulations are the next battleground.
The rejection of amendments to the Agriculture Bill in the House of Commons yesterday marks the loss of a historic opportunity to make Britain a world leader in sustainable food and farming.
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Thanks to @PastureForLife for letting me @andyrumming take over your account this week. I'll be covering cows, grass, wildlife, our butchery and other things I'm up to.
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This spring I have been embracing the dual propose nature of the Shetlands and have been milking one of our cows - only taking a maximum of a litre a day, enough to meet our own needs. Itโs been an amazing learning curve, I love it! . We drink the milk raw - itโs delicious.
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We are delighted to have been awarded funding from @countrysidefund to run a project looking at ways to improve the profitability of farms in upland areas.
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Regenerative farming shift could reduce UK climate emissions, say experts
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We're signatories of this consensus on future food and farming๐พ. โNature-friendly farming for healthier people, resilient farming livelihoods, prosperous rural areas, thriving wildlife & a stable climate๐ฉโ๐พ. Read more๐.
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We have joined up all our woodland shaws @romshedfarm with mixed hedging. The blackthorn is first to flower and the countryside has had a wonderful white wash. They provide great wildlife corridors for dormice, bats and other small mammals.
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A bit of a โday in the lifeโ theme for todayโs final social media takeover day by me @howemill . We were up early to set up road lines so we could move #theweemob 1/4 mile down the road to new grazing - they were brilliant and it was all very calm and steady!
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Agroforestry is the practice of integrating farming and trees - when itโs crops itโs silvoarable, when itโs livestock itโs silvopasture. Diversity is a key component of a resilient farm so using one area of land for multiple uses (animals + trees) increases business resilience.
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Healthy Hedgerows. We asked Fidelity Weston, farmer at PfL certified @romshedfarm and hedgerow-extraordinaire, about how hedgerows can benefit a pasture-fed system. ๐ฃ๏ธ โThe hedges on our farm have been here since time immemorial, and are a heritage of the centuries of. 1/5
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Wishing all our followers, members and certified farmers and butchers, a very happy festive season with dreams of summery days like this. #pasturefed #farmwithnature #biodiversity #regenag Image courtesy of Ian Boyd @CotswoldBeef
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Flood meadows says David Gowing unique plant community, mitigate against #climatechange, unique nutrient regimes due to floods and dry years, cultural heritage, and exceptionally long roots. They need managing to preserve. #regenerativeagriculture #pastureforlife
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Membership Myth #1. PFLA is only for farmers who are 100% pasture-fed. NO! Approximately 20% of our farmers are certified, the rest are on the journey, with help of our supportive community. Learning is a key aspect of what makes the PFLA special. #PFLA #itsnotthecowitsthehow
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Adrian Steele of @SoilAssociation asks important question at #orfc21 #ORFCGlobal: Why isn't gov't looking more to agroecological farm practices like #organic #pastureforlife #biodynamic for ideas to deliver environmental/welfare/social outcomes? @DefraGovUK @ORFC @UKSustain.
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"We could have increased the size of our herd, but were limited by the capacity of our sheds,โ says Silas Hedley-Lawrence, farm manager at @FAIfarms. โSo, we started looking at the possibility of outwintering.โ.
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Astrong immune system is critical for #wellness and #health. Pasture-fed meat and milk has lower total fat levels, higher conjugated linoleic acid, higher vitamin + mineral + Omega 3 levels than meat or milk from grain-fed animals. Food as medicine? Find out. #grainfree >>100%<<
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๐ฃ #Easter is the time to buy 100% pasture-fed lamb, hogget and mutton, full of flavour and nutrients, and support the benefits to people, planet and animals from pasture-fed farming. #powerofyourpurse . ๐
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Weโve just had four calves this spring - all heifers (female), all born and up suckling without any intervention or help required. We were very proud of the girls. This is Betty and her calf Acorn.
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Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5 awards for #pastureforlife producers at the 2018 @nationaltrust fine food awards @Countryfilelive
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We're celebrating #WorldSoilDay, check out our Biodiversity Case Studies, 30 and counting, which showcase our member farms working to improve soil health alongside producing nutrient-dense meat and dairy.
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It's national #meadowsday and carefully managed grazing animals really help to manage these special habitats. Buy #pastureforlife produce to support more meadow creation
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โฆ@CotswoldBeefโฉ weโve planted 1000โs of trees over 30yrs which the cattle can now take advantage. They provide shade and they graze low branches,weeds,grasses and brambles beneath. They also browse the orchard once apples are picked. #agroforestry #biodiversity #bethechange
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New research conducted by the Nature Friendly Farming Network @NFFNUK amongst their public + farmer members reveals demand for climate and nature-friendly farming. A practical guide for farming, nature & climate with case studies #RethinkFarming
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NEW #biodiversity case study from Bella Lowes at Mill Barton Farm in #Devon. 'We're keen to encourage the encroachment of the hedges into the fields'. On #Insta she's taken over our social for the week @bella_millbarton #pasturefed #regenerativeagriculture
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Leaping into 2023 like. ! This glorious photo was taken by Pippa Reay at @KneppWilding who are certified with Pasture for Life. From the entire Pasture for Life community, we wish everyone a very Happy New Year! .๐ธ Pippa Reay at Knepp Estate #PfLCertified
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Can pasture-fed farming improve biodiversity? ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฆ. A recent study analysed the viability and environmental impact of pasture-fed systems in the UK, particularly under Pasture for Life practices. ๐ธ PfL certified @andyrumming 's Beef Wiltshire. 1/6
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Mesmerised this evening by @MerlinSheldrake and @tweedpipe at #orfc21 on fungi. Lyrical, political and profound. Are we moving into an age of interconnectedness and leaving the age of the self? Whatโs the best way for farmers to measure their soil fungi? @ORFC.
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Some pasture-fed farmers are getting involved in a new project around humane slaughter and the possibilities of mobile abattoirs to reduce animal stress. Presenting their findings at #ORFC18 today
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Agroecology means we think about multiple outcomes as part of our grazing management - leaving residuals for habitat & soil health, creating edges which make excellent hunting areas for predatory animals, consider flowering periods & integrating scrub & trees into the plan.
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Hi @achrisevans - you're welcome to visit any of our farms to understand how essential cows are for converting food that humans can't eat into human food, plus maintain Britain's iconic landscape - and its healthy!
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Trees help bring on the spring grass for livestock - adding trees to the farm has not reduced livestock stocking rates.#ORFC19 #OFC19 #uplands #silvopasture
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Congratulations to the whole Dalton family @daltonsdairy for winning gold for the family farming business of the year, in the British Farming Awards @FarmingAwards. Dairy can be done on 100% pasture. #itsnotthecowitsthehow #Pasturefed #soilhealth
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๐งโ๐พ๐ฟWe're excited to be at @Groundswellaguk on the 26th/ 27th June for our most prominent presence yet! . Famed as the Glastonbury for farmers, Groundswell brings together the best minds and organisations in regenerative agriculture. 1/2
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We are very pleased to welcome our 500th member today! #community #sustainable #grassfed #grainfree #animalwelfare #environmentallyfriendly #joinus #DontMissOut
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Q: Why are we talking mostly about #regenerativeagriculture and not #organic? Dan Kittredge, organic farmer, answers: 'Why can't we have a standard that says 'full of nutrients'? Organic is too #binary, it's a process. Let's get away from binary.' #ORFCGlobal.
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