The Norroy SUPER-G farm network co-innovation workshop took place on July 9th 2019Ā in GAEC du PichetĀ in Norroy, France.
The main objectives of this day were to:
- Present the SUPER-G project to farmers
- Understand why farmers of the GAEC du Pichet test these innovations in their farm, and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these practices.
The workshop has focused on two innovative techniques used by GAEC du Pichet to improve their permanentĀ grasslands used for pasture:
- Chicory overseeding
Their main issue is theĀ very low growth of grass from mid-JuneĀ to mid-SeptemberĀ so they’reĀ testing the overseeding of chicory in permanent grassland and plant trees and hedgerows.
The over-seeding of chicory in the paddock hasnāt allowed increasing pasture duration in summer. There is not enough chicory to feed animals. Solutions should be to have a pure chicory paddock or to test another species.
- Agroforestry
This technique intends to bring shadow and shelters for cows; bring shadow for grass:Ā grass stay green 2-3 weeks more under trees than without shadows; use the wood chips in the litter of cows; some trees are āmedicine treesā – cows will have free access to the trees for āself-medicationā; cut branches during summer and use leaves as forage for animals. Some researches show a very interesting nutritional value for leaves.
See below a photograph from this day.
