DANÚ

Transition to Biological Farming

BY DAVID WALLIS

Danú Farming Group is a project funded by the EU’s European Innovation Programme (EIP). The funding is administered in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and commenced in June 2018. It will continue until December 2023.

Danú consists of 12 farmers, six tillage, six grassland and five support personnel. At the beginning of the project Danú reviewed their current farming systems, identified weaknesses in their soil, crop and pasture management and subsequently began the implementation of practices to transition to a biological farming system. Each member of the group considered that their previous soil management practices were not sustainable and that the development of a fully functional soil biology would be the foundation on which sustainable and economically viable farms would be maintained into the future. The focus of the project is for Danú to learn and implement the basic principles of biological farming. The term “biological farming” was first used by Gary Zimmer, a US farmer, agricultural consultant and author of textbooks on the subject. In essence it is an approach to farming that combines the best of  young plant growing with sunshine © istockphoto.com conventional and organic practices with the aim of fostering and maintaining robust soil biology. Where optimum soil biology function is attained, improved levels of nutrient density in forage, feed and food is achieved which benefits animal and human health. PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGICAL FARMING: 1. Farm management, agronomy and animal husbandry focus on optimising soil biology populations and their function. 2. Over a transition period, reduction and eventual cessation of the application of certain fertilisers and all pesticides that impede optimal soil biology function. 3. Develop and maintain living plant covers throughout the entire year to provide a continuous food source for soil biodiversity. 4. Increase and maintain plant species diversity in arable and grassland systems. 5. Minimise soil disturbance (move to min-till/no-till in arable systems). 6. More efficient use of animal manures and biological inoculants.

BENEFITS OF BIOLOGICAL FARMING: 1. Improved soil structure and alleviation of compaction. 2. Increased water infiltration rates, a consequence of improved top-soil structure and depth, so improving water quality in catchment areas. 3. Significant reduction in losses of nitrogen from volatilisation and leaching and phosphorus from surface run-off. Reduction in artificial nitrogen use and an increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). 4. Improved sward and crop quality which benefits animal and human health. 5. Increased levels of carbon sequestration over time. 6. Increase in farm biodiversity.

TRIAL PLOTS: All 12 farms set aside four plots for field sized trials in August 2018. Trials have been running now for three seasons. Plot 1 Control: Teagasc guidelines & recommendations (“Green Book”). Plot 2 As control, but all artificial nitrogen & acid phosphate (N & Acid P) buffered with a carbon source: molasses, humates, sugar, compost, slurry or farmyard manure. Plot 3 Full mineral balancing over the period of the trial and buffered N & Acid P Plot 4 Full mineral balancing plus selected biological inoculants/ treatments with buffered N & Acid P over the period of the trial.

"IN ESSENCE IT IS AN APPROACH TO FARMING THAT COMBINES THE BEST OF CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC PRACTICES WITH THE AIM OF FOSTERING AND MAINTAINING ROBUST SOIL BIOLOGY".

“Buffering” artificial nitrogen with a carbon source ameliorates the negative effect of applied nitrogen on soil biology and buffering ‘acid phosphate’ limits the negative effect this fertiliser has on mycorrhizal populations which are key to supplying P to the plant from soil reserves. Plants feed soil biology with root exudates. Up to 40% of a plant’s energy from photosynthesis is exuded through the roots to feed soil biology in exchange for nutrients the plant needs on an “on call” basis. Artificial nitrogen and salty soluble fertilisers disrupt this process. Species diversity – multi species swards & diverse cover crop mixes engage soil biology in a remarkably short period of time.

In autumn 2018 all trial plots had comprehensive nutrient tests and soil bioassays samples taken. Field tests and observations included worm counts, penetrometer readings (a measure of soil compaction), water infiltration rates and visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS). All 48 plots showed nutrient imbalances, sub-optimal soil biology function, compaction, low worm counts, poor water infiltration rates and mediocre soil structure.

These issues were addressed using a mix of practices individually decided upon by each farmer on the trial plots: buffered N & acid P, soft ground rock phosphate, seaweed extract, inoculated slurry, compost rather than raw farmyard manure, compost teas, compost extracts, vermi-juice, cover crops, multispecies swards, trace element balancing, foliar nitrogen and nutrition; min-till and no-till on arable farms.

By the end of the second season, all 12 farmers noticed that subtle differences were showing up on the trial plots, and all 12 farmers had at this stage begun to apply the management principles and amendments on plots 3 & 4 on the rest of their farmed lands. This has been a very positive development given that farmers in general are understandably risk adverse and are reluctant to invest in a process if they are not sure of positive results.

Trends at the end of the third season on all Danú farmed lands:

On livestock farms there has been a reduction of N usage by a minimum of 35% with no reduction in output. On arable farms there has been a reduction of N usage by 10-15% with no reduction in output.

Insecticides have been reduced by a minimum of 50%, in most

 Hedgehog by Andrew Kelly

cases by 100%! Fungicides have been reduced by 30 to 50%. Herbicides have been reduced by 30 to 40%.

A very positive feature of the work to date has been the increase in wildlife observed on the 12 farms. This is particularly evident on the arable farms where insect life has exploded, likely due to the significant reduction/elimination of insecticides and diverse cover crops and in the multi-species grassland swards. Worm counts are improving. Bird populations have increased: more yellowhammers, snipe, skylark, golden plover, owls, lapwing & sparrowhawks to name a few. Danú believes that biological farming on commercial farms can be sustainable, profitable and beneficial to the environment.