Advantages of Adopting Pasture-Raised Farming Practices
In the heart of rural England, Rebecca Hosking, a certified Pasture for Life farmer, is pioneering a farming method that not only produces good food but also builds soil and increases wildlife while potentially sequestering carbon. This innovative approach, known as mob grazing, has been gaining attention for its potential benefits to the environment.
Starting this summer, the Rothamsted Institute will take soil samples and measure them to determine the amount of carbon being locked down on Rebecca's farm. This project aims to quantify the amount of carbon being sequestered in her mob-grazed soils, providing empirical evidence for the effectiveness of this approach.
Rebecca's farming practices are rooted in the principles of regenerative agriculture, mimicking nature and originated by Allan Savoury. She moves 1,000 different coloured sheep to a new patch of grazing every July 10, a practice that promotes longer roots and stores carbon in the soil, as long as the field is never ploughed again.
Mob grazing offers several benefits, including a focus on the resting period, preventing over-eating of favourite plants, and promoting a "mad buffet" competition among animals. This dynamic system encourages healthier and more abundant grass growth, nourishing soil microbes and potentially increasing soil carbon stocks.
However, it's important to note that the scientific evidence supporting soil carbon sequestration through mob grazing remains limited but promising within the broader context of regenerative grazing approaches. While the theory and initial projects indicate positive effects, peer-reviewed, large-scale, long-term scientific evidence conclusively demonstrating increased soil carbon sequestration directly attributable to mob grazing is still scarce.
One example of ongoing efforts to quantify the benefits is Yeo Valley Organic, which practices mob grazing similar to Hosking's approach. They are engaged in long-term monitoring of soil carbon stocks with the goal of increasing sequestration by 25% over time.
Rebecca Hosking's specific mob grazing method has not been validated by direct scientific publications in the recent literature. However, her practices align with those regenerative agriculture principles currently being tested for carbon sequestration benefits.
In addition to her environmental efforts, Rebecca supplies restaurants with her produce and sells different sized meat boxes directly to customers' homes. She saves on inputs by being organic and on vet's bills due to constant moving of her sheep. She also notes an increase in bird populations, flowers, and trees on her farm each year, a testament to the symbiotic relationship between wildlife and livestock on her farm.
As the Rothamsted Institute's soil samples are analysed, we await the results that could potentially confirm the promising potential of mob grazing for carbon sequestration. Until then, Rebecca Hosking continues to be a shining example of sustainable farming practices that benefit both the environment and her community.
[1] Savory, A., & Butterfield, B. (2013). Holistic Management: A Practical Guide to Managing the Planet. Island Press. [2] Smi, V. (2000). Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. Island Press. [4] Hosking, R. (2016, August 16). Rebecca Hosking's Mob Grazing: A Sustainable Approach to Farming. BBC Radio 4's Farming Today.
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