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FARMER

On the Farm

Improving productivity and using resources more efficiently on farms can significantly reduce environmental impact. Many of these improvements can be made by adopting existing technologies and following good practices in areas like animal health, feeding, fertiliser use, and overall farm management. These changes are likely to benefit farm performance, profitability and sustainability in a positive way too.

Farmers have already made great headway in addressing the environmental footprint of dairying, with 80% of farmers having calculated their carbon footprint and already taking steps to reduce emissions and 40% of energy on dairy farms coming from renewable sources.

Farmers are working ever harder to reduce their environmental impact and are embracing new technologies and innovative practices. This includes farming alongside nature, genetic selection, shifting towards more circular and resource-efficient farming methods and using feed additives.

There is a clear direction of travel, with action being expected by consumers, customers, and the government, and farmers already delivering better environmental outcomes.

 The Dairy Roadmap is working with the industry to create helpful resources that guide farmers on how to make their farms more environmentally sustainable, ensuring their future success and the health of the UK dairy sector.

Lyndon Edwards (Dairy Roadmap Chair), Paul Tompkins (NFU Dairy Board Chair) and David Cotton (Dairy Farmer) discussing why the Roadmap is important for farmers.

Further reading

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

A commitment to health on dairy farms.

BIODIVERSITY

Read what we have in place and how we implement it

CARBON FOOTPRINT AND ENERGY

Read about dairy farming and its carbon footprint

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Focusing on feed and the environment

WATER

Looking in depth at water efficiency methods

FARMER TARGETS

See our next targets for sustainable dairy farming