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On Your Farm: Holistic Grazing

Holistic Grazing

22/01/2017

BBC Radio 4 - On Your Farm, Holistic Grazing

Sybil Ruscoe meets renowned American agricultural pioneer Joel Salatin.

Sybil Ruscoe visits Fir Farm in Gloucestershire, where renowned American agricultural pioneer Joel Salatin explains how his holistic mob-grazing system can work for British farms.

'Healing the land one bite at a time': that's the motto of Joel Salatin, one of America's most famous farmers, who practices and promotes his own brand of holistic mob grazing and mixed farming.

The Salatin system mirrors the herd movement of ancient times, steering cattle or sheep from pasture to pasture, following the best grass without over-grazing. Livestock are followed by chickens to fertilise and sanitise, which apparently enhances the grass growth and the soil beneath it - allowing for better carbon capture and ensuring well-fed, free range animals.

Here in the UK, Joel's system - tried and tested on his farm in Virginia, USA - has been embraced by the team at Fir Farm in Gloucestershire, who are steadily implementing mob grazing methods, with slight adjustments to account for the British climate.

Sybil Ruscoe meets the Fir Farm team and Joel Salatin himself, to see exactly how the system is being implemented here in the UK and learn more about its potential benefits.

Produced by Lucy Taylor.

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