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Straeon Ffermwyr

Joel Kerr - The Curious Farmer, Tyrone

Gogledd Iwerddon
Q&A
Da byw

Joel Kerr farms a 32-hectare organic poultry farm and runs The Curious Farmer, a small-batch direct-sell beef company. He produces free-range organic chickens, alongside small herds of native breed Shorthorn cattle and Dorset horn sheep, which he sells for meat directly.

How important is nature-friendly farming and why?

Nature-friendly farming is not easy. It’s about getting to grips with your environment and figuring out how to make it work to get the best yields. Manipulating nature with fertilizers or pesticides will work for a short time but not in the long run. Nature-friendly farming may initially take a bit more effort but once established nature does a lot of the work for you.

How do you see the role of the farmer in the UK?

Farmers are on the front line in the battle against climate change. Almost three quarters of the UK is made up of agricultural land, and with soil and plants being among the biggest carbon sinks, decisions made by farmers will have an environmental impact. At the same time the population is growing, so it is our job to figure out how to do this in a way that isn’t going to do more damage to the planet.

What nature-friendly farming practices have you introduced on your farm?

Twenty years ago, we transitioned our free-range poultry broilers to an organic system. A recent environmental audit found the organic ground is so species rich it has almost reverted to its natural state. We have planted wildflower strips and hundreds of native trees, we plan to introduce berry bushes later in the year. Our native, slow growing Shorthorns are much better at thriving on the resources available to them compared to bulky continentals.

What have been the impacts of nature-friendly practices on your farm?

On a personal level, a nature-friendly farm is a very nice place to be. Every morning I walk through a forest of native trees, which changes from season to season. There is lots of wildlife, from hares to birds and bees and butterflies. From a financial perspective we have been able to command a premium from our produce. Inputs are low which means an increased bottom line and an enriched environment, benefiting biodiversity and the climate.

Joel Kerr

Will Brexit affect you and how?

Who knows! On the one hand there is the threat of the UK being flooded with cheap meat, but on the other hand I don’t see that really threatening my business, as my customers don’t want cheap meat. Everything we rear is sold locally or to the UK, but Brexit is still unknown and seems to change every day.

What do you think of farming policy and what needs to change?

Farm policy always seems to react to the problems of the day without considering what issues may arise in the future. Self-sufficiency dictated CAP, and then acreage-based payments with a slight nod to the environment. Post Brexit we can set new policies and it seems the main consideration will be environmental enrichment, as it should be. But let’s not forget we have the job of feeding a growing population. Nature-friendly farming is vital for both these goals.

What do you need from consumers – how can they help?

Supermarkets are the norm now and most people think of food provenance in terms of what aisle they’ll find it on, and often go for the cheaper option. Climate change is everyone’s issue, so it is up to up to consumers to get to grips with where food comes from and what impact their eating choices have. For nature-friendly farming to thrive we need consumers to support local producers.

What nature-friendly farming methods do you need financial support for?

A business approach does not always work in tandem with farmers roles as caretakers of the land. I haven’t been able to justify the spend for herbal leys on predominantly rye grass pastures. Financial support for these practices would help speed up the process of achieving carbon net zero on the farm. Net zero is a big goal and to allow changes that might not justify spending in the short term, financial support comes in useful for the whole UK, not just farms.

How do your farming practices make you more resilient to climate change?

It is difficult to determine the full impact, as a lot of it is unseen. The tangible changes are a return to a biodiverse landscape that is self-sustaining with low input, without reliance on imported feed. We still have work to do but we are much better positioned now than we were ten years ago to react to any major climate issues. Working with native flora and fauna and supplying a local market is key to being resilient to climate change, so I’ll continue to grow the farm in that direction.

How will we get farming to change?

Farming is a business, but nature can’t be run from a boardroom, and this needs to be reflected in the food industry. We have worked nature to death in order to meet our growing demand for cheap, convenient food.

Supermarkets need to re-consider how they set their targets, consumers need to change their relationship with food, farmers need to get back to working with nature and policymakers need to put the environment at the centre of any decisions. It won’t be an easy or a quick process, but we need to start making changes now, and it is farmers, not stakeholders, who need to be at the centre of any decisions made.

Joel Kerr

 What is the value of the NFFN?

By joining the NFFN I am no longer just a frustrated farmer ranting on Twitter. I feel that I am part of something bigger and can use my energy for positive change.