As we see it, pastoral farming in this country is at a crossroads, with the path ahead uncharted territory.

Environmental considerations will be at the forefront of soon to be implemented regulations, and as with all major change, it’s likely that the pendulum will swing too far in favour of the environment before coming back to reality.

This is particularly so when currently all animals are seen as having an environmentally negative impact, and Overseer regards all nitrogen leaching as equivalent, whether applied, fixed naturally by clover or direct from the atmosphere.

Animals should not be regarded as having a negative impact. They should be seen as the catalyst that ensures carbon from the atmosphere is stored in the soil as humus.