As custodians of our land at Powis Estates, we are keen to support our tenant farmers in doing what they can to safeguard their environment. We are pleased to profile Marc Jones , an award-winning farmer and feature his work in regenerative farming.
Winner of BGS ‘Grassland Farming of the Year’ in 2021, Marc Jones is one of the tenant farmers here on our estate. Marc farms Trefnant Hall Farm in partnership with his parents, and together they rear Angus dairy crosses and New Zealand Romney sheep. Marc began trialing forage-based regenerative farming after completing ascholarship in New Zealand, where he was introduced to new ideas for successful drought management. Back in Wales, he was very keen to try out these ideas, as Trefnant Hall Farm is south-facing with very dry and steep land.
With his sights set on a 5 year period to reduce inputs and look for the ecology of the farm to increase, Marc has implemented many experimental changes. This included planting fodder beet, which thrives in dry soil and guarantees the winter feed, to doing in-depth soil samples and counting invertebrates to better measure the ecosystem on a smaller scale.
He has also created more habitats for wildlife by laying hedges and planting deep-rooted grasses like red clover, chicory, and white clover (herbal leys) with fungi and bacteria added in with the seeds to increase moisture to reduce the need for fertilisers. Deep-rooting herbal leys and a high worm count are vital to cycling naturally occurring nitrate and phosphate in the soil and are a central aspect of modern regenerative farming.
Over the last 70 years intensive farming has stripped the soil of its ability to replenish its rich resources, and replacing these missing components cannot keep coming from synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Regenerative farming looks to use nature-friendly methods which are desperately needed before sustainability can become the key focus. Agriculture that works with nature rather than against it will mean healthier soils and healthier food, and allow both wildlife to return to our countryside and enhance the welfare of our animals.
Powis Estates contains diverse terrain including agricultural land and woodland and through this regenerative farming approach we are able to manage the land in a way that will sustain it for future generations.