Plenary and Invited Papers Section 2: Grassland & the Environment
Description
- To manage grasslands for production and enhanced environmental values requires a redefinition of the frameworks within which management decisions are made, and a tailoring of practices to suit the ways that farmers operate.
- Improving the perenniality and permanence of grasslands usually leads to better environmental and production outcomes.
- There is a case for a more conservative approach to utilising grasslands in order to sustain the functioning of local ecosystems and to improve water quality, nutrient and energy cycling and biodiversity.
- A landscape rather than paddock focus is more appropriate for meeting current grassland management objectives. Grasslands can be triaged to better focus R&D and management, though this could challenge society’s preferences for products from more environmentally friendly ecosystems.
- There is a need to find payment and/or market systems that mean environmental values are enhanced and farm income does not suffer.
Citation
Kemp, David R. and Michalk, David L., "Grasslands1 for Production and the Environment" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 11.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/2/11
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grasslands1 for Production and the Environment
- To manage grasslands for production and enhanced environmental values requires a redefinition of the frameworks within which management decisions are made, and a tailoring of practices to suit the ways that farmers operate.
- Improving the perenniality and permanence of grasslands usually leads to better environmental and production outcomes.
- There is a case for a more conservative approach to utilising grasslands in order to sustain the functioning of local ecosystems and to improve water quality, nutrient and energy cycling and biodiversity.
- A landscape rather than paddock focus is more appropriate for meeting current grassland management objectives. Grasslands can be triaged to better focus R&D and management, though this could challenge society’s preferences for products from more environmentally friendly ecosystems.
- There is a need to find payment and/or market systems that mean environmental values are enhanced and farm income does not suffer.
