It is important that all employees on a farm are treated fairly and justly, and that their welfare and success are taken into account within their work environment. Farmers, and their well-being, are important. They are the people whose time, energy and effort results in food production for the rest of society.
There are many different food sources of protein. Of these, milk contains the highest quality of protein. It seems as though milk, and milk products, could offer a great solution to protein demand, especially with regards to quality, in the developing world.
Animal welfare is therefore linked to sustainability in that looking after your animals will ensure less need for external inputs.
The Woodlands Dairy soil lab analyses are used as soil sustainability indicators that form a part of the SWAN sustainable system.
Life contains energy, and all life requires energy to function. Energy is found, and needed, in various forms. In soil, the greatest source of energy is in the form of organic matter and carbon therein.
Here is an example of how improved soil life and good soil structure can unlock unavailable nitrogen into a form that is readily available for pasture uptake. You can possibly reduce your nitrogen fertiliser costs.
As a farmer, he said, he sees the soil life on his farm as another ‘herd’ which he has to provide for, especially with regards to food. If he looks after his soil life ‘herd’, then they will look after the soil and ensure that it is healthy.
I feel that sustainability as a word and term has been thrown around lately as a buzz word that people are impressed by, but do not actually understand. Part of the problem is that sustainability is used to describe a large variation of things.
Woodlands Dairy, a fresh milk processor and producer and packager of dairy products located in the Eastern Cape, partners with Trace & Save, to implement the Woodlands Dairy Sustainability Project.