Briefing 52 – last reviewed June 6, 2007

Integrated Farm Management

Summary
Integrated Farm Management (IFM) combines good business, good husbandry and good environmental
practice. It requires an understanding of the biological and ecological interactions of the farm. Unlike
organic farming IFM is not the same fixed system everywhere. It recognises that each farm is different so
each develops its own programme to fit its circumstances.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) encourages farmers to take up IFM through practical
guidelines and the LEAF Audit. It promotes IFM by setting up demonstration farms and arranging visits to
them by groups including farmers, the media, politicians, opinion formers, concern groups and teachers.

The term Integrated Crop Management (ICM) applies the same principles but just to crop production

IFM principles
o a commitment to good husbandry and animal welfare
o knowing the cropping and environmental risks on the farm.
o minimising the use of fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, and fuels
o maintaining the soil and its fertility
o the use of crop rotations
o using crop residues and livestock manures efficiently as fertilizers and minimising
pollution
o improving wildlife habitats appropriate to the farm concerned
o maintaining and improving landscape and farm buildings
o a commitment to communication, training and involvement

How does it work?

Adopting practices that conserve nutrients and reduce pest, disease and weed attack can reduce inputs.
Forward planning, attention to detail and regular monitoring are critical. Managing an integrated system
requires a greater level of knowledge than for conventional farming, especially in the way crops interact
and environmental effects.

Integrated farming is all about assessing the risks associated with the farm and then adjusting the system
to minimise them. Risks will include pests, diseases and weeds, lodging, flooding, drought, pollution, soil
erosion, bad weather at harvest etc.

Crop rotation is the cornerstone of any integrated system. It uses at least four different crop types in a
minimum five-year rotation. Growing more crops reduces weeds, pests and diseases and ensures a good
nutrient balance. A diverse crop rotation spreads the workload and the impact on the business of poor

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yields or sale prices for any one crop. It also reduces the impact of any one crop on the environment. A
mosaic of different crops on a farm creates a diverse range of habitats. Including some spring-sown crops
in the rotation can bring extra benefits, because where stubbles are left over the winter, they provide
cover and food for farmland birds.

Soil cultivation. Minimal cultivation is practised wherever possible. It uses tined and disced implements
which do not disturb the soil as much as ploughing and associated cultivations. It can reduce energy
inputs, leaching of nitrogen and soil erosion, and improve the physical properties of the soil, and fauna
and flora. Minimal cultivation is suitable for most soil types but some do require ploughing to maintain
structure and create the tilth required for crops such as potatoes. Some ploughing may also be necessary
where weeds like blackgrass occur.

Fertilisers. Nitrogen fertiliser applications are calculated to optimise yields, restrict residues after
harvest, keep environmental damage to a minimum, and avoid wastage of fertiliser. Areas near
watercourses and hedgerows are particularly vulnerable to contamination and so get special care. Leaf
tissue analysis and computer decision models are among the techniques which may be used to assess
crop nutrient requirements more accurately.

Also a nutrient analysis of slurry and farmyard manure will be carried out to ensure that amounts applied
are not in excess of requirements.

Pests and predators. Pesticides have an important role in IFM but the need for them is reduced by:
o growing resistant crop varieties,
o using traditional farming methods like delayed drilling,
o monitoring pests, weeds and diseases and encouraging pest-eating insects

Where pesticides are necessary, the more selective are used where possible. This reduces costs, avoids
pests developing resistance to the chemicals, and keeps disruption of beneficial species to a minimum.

Beetles, hoverflies, parasitic wasps and other insects which help to control pests and provide food for
farmland birds are encouraged by using:
o flower-rich field margins
o over-wintering sites such as beetle banks
o avoiding complete weed control as weeds can provide food and cover for wildlife
o adopting minimum tillage where possible

Livestock
Humane stock-keeping is the main priority. Action could include;
o introducing the FABBL farm assurance scheme.
o operating a closed livestock system to reduce the risk of introducing diseases
o taking measures to avoid undue poaching which could lead to soil erosion
o operating a clean grazing systems (alternate annual grazing of cattle and sheep to
reduce parasite levels)
o where possible, ensuring nesting birds and wildlife are protected from forage cutting
o checking that hedges are stock-proof and provide shelter for both stock and crops
o trying to ensure that no injury to an animal will be caused during transport in a vehicle.

Pollution Control
IFM aims to minimise wastes, to recycle them where possible and to dispose of them safely. What is done
depends on individual farm circumstances but it could include:
o creating a farm waste management plan to minimise the risk of pollution
o assessing noise in the work place and taking appropriate action.
o considering low rate irrigation as a means of disposing of dirty water safely
o composting waste from grading or packing lines to reduce its volume and provide useful
fertiliser.

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Energy Efficiency
Could include:
o monitoring fuel energy consumption to identify areas of the high usage and trends over
time
o reducing vehicle movements
o purchasing a cultivator drill to reduce overall number of passes in establishing cereal
crops.

Water Management
Could include:
o assessment of alternative sources and opportunities for water conservation
o improving water application methods for irrigation
o collecting water from roofs and gutters
o ensuring that dirty water is segregated from clean water. This will reduce wastage by
saving high quality water.
o testing for nitrates in surface water and groundwater to help assess of risk of pollution.

Communication and training

Could include;
o increasing communication with staff including sharing information on farm performance
o training staff in the benefits and techniques of environmental management
o training in the safe application, handling and storage of pesticides, soil management and
first aid.
o increasing access to the farm for walkers and riders without reducing profitability and
causing environmental problems.
o Creating opportunities to improve the public's understanding and confidence in farming
eg considering farm open days.

Landscape and wildlife features

Existing habitats and landscape features take priority when planning the environmental management
programme for the farm but they may be enhanced by
o creating a whole farm conservation plan
o encouraging biodiversity in field margins and headlands
o avoiding misapplication and drift of agrochemical and fertiliser onto uncultivated land.
o planning operations like rolling, spraying and cutting to avoid destroying nests and young
and adult birds as much as possible.

The LEAF Audit

The farmer completes an audit which details his objectives and which he sends to LEAF. He gets back
the LEAF Performance Monitor, an assessment of his audit against the principles and practices of IFM. It
allows him to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of his approach to help him set priorities for action. It
gives a personalised list of suggested practices and ideas which he may consider. It includes a star rating
which defines the priority of each suggestion and a benchmarking system allowing him to compare his
performance with other farmers.

Does it work ?

The factual evidence from the country’s major ICM research projects has been pooled by IACPA (the
Integrated Arable Crop Production Alliance). It shows that IFM:
o can reduce inputs, deliver environmental benefits and still maintain profitability. Output
may drop, but so do costs
o needs less labour and energy but greater attention to detail and knowledge
o improves earthworm, bird and beetle numbers and carbon sequestration of the soil (when
a soil is ploughed carbon is released by the oxidation of organic matter. Minimum tillage
disturbs the soil less than ploughing allowing the build up of organic matter, with the soil
acting as a carbon sink).

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 More Information
http://www.leafuk.org/leaf/

Thanks to Roly Puzey of LEAF for comments on the draft of this paper.

Alan Spedding, July 8, 2003, reviewed May 30, 2006

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