Agroforestry at the Adlerzart farm

Summary in the original language of the document

Pirmin Adler observed the following effects of agroforestry on his farm: 1) Animal health and welfare: fodder hedges provide species-appropriate nutrition for his animals. The foliage is rich in minerals and phytochemicals. In addition, the shrubs create shade and reduce temperature fluctuations. Some shrubs, such as mountain ash and bird cherry, serve as natural medicines against parasites. The willow also has good fodder values and is good for animal health. Biodiversity and climate resilience: The diversity of the planted shrubs, with around 20 different species, promotes biodiversity. Agroforestry is intended to build a resilient system that is better equipped to withstand environmental influences. The focus here is not on increasing yields, but on stabilising yields over the years. 2) Timber production: The trees are used to produce wood chips, which Pirmin Adler then integrates into the operational cycles. This also serves to enhance the value of the farmyard manure.