Elm Farm silvopastoral trial. The first five years.

- A novel agroforestry system combining bioenergy production and livestock production was established on Elm Farm in 2011, as part of the European FP7 research project Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying Systems, with the aim of assessing the potential impacts of utilising an agroforestry system for low-input and organic dairy systems. The research focused on five areas: • establishment of the system; • impact of establishment on pasture productivity and species composition in the agroforestry alleys; • impacts on the microclimate; • interactions between cattle and trees and the economics of establishing and managing a bioenergy/ livestock silvopastoral system. This report summarises the first five years of research carried out in the trial