CUMBRIAN farm adviser Ruth Dalton has been appointed as a regional facilitator for the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) in the county.

In her new role she will be organising farm visits and meetings and providing support to local PFLA farmers interested in producing more of their meat and dairy just from grass and forage.

The PFLA is a strong, diverse community of farmers, butchers, academics and consumers who champion the regenerative role of ruminant grazing animals.

With almost 700 members across the UK, the organisation is setting up regional groups to reach increasing numbers of farmers looking to take a more sustainable approach to food production.

The benefits of pasture-only farming include greater soil health, better animal welfare, more biodiversity and wildlife, as well as providing tasty, nutritious food that is healthy for consumers to eat.

Ruth, from near Kendal, and her partner breed pedigree native cattle and a small number of sheep. All stock is out-wintered, with most cattle away for the home farm in the winter, grazing to improve privately-owned land to generate greater biodiversity.

With a background in native livestock genetics and an interest in sustainable land management, Ruth is delighted to become part of the PFLA team.

“There is so much potential right now for farmers to move towards a pasture-based system, especially with the rising cost of inputs and the uncertainties around the ending of the Basic Payment Scheme," she said. "I am looking forward to getting out and about and talking to people about how the PFLA can help.”

Any farmers interested in moving towards being 100 per cent pasture-fed, or would like to connect with other PFLA farmers in Cumbria, can contact Ruth by email at ruthcdalton@gmail.com

The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) champions the virtues of Pasture for Life farming, providing a distinct and legal identity for systems where animals eat only grass and forage their entire life. Meat and dairy products produced in this way are more sustainable and healthier for humans to eat than meat and dairy from animals fed grain.

This way of farming is also environmentally friendly – flower-rich meadows are filled with insects, birds and mammals, soils are rejuvenated and it has a low carbon footprint.