Zöldág Lovasudvar

From the beginning, the farmer dealt with an agroforestry system, which required him to convert the reforested, dense scrub area into a pasture. Since 2015 he has developed a wood pasture system. At the final phase of  the establishment of the wood pasture, the area was divided into smaller pastures where rotational grazing is maintained. During the winter it is necessary to feed the livestock with hay and forage. The animals (sheep and horses) are kept outdoors, and there is a deep stable for the sheeps as well. The area is fenced with electric shepherds, but since the grazing of the forest is allowed (thanks to a new regulation), the lower strand of the electric shepherd has been removed so the sheep can go out into the surrounding woods. The area currently has three functions: (i) extensive livestock grazing with wood pasture management and gene conservation, (ii) permaculture herbs garden and orchards, and (iii) related services such as horse riding and location of local / regional heritage events (eg. annual herds meeting) and other gastronomic events associated with local produce.

• The farmer designed the system to be self-sustaining and to meet the family's own needs.
• Farming, including land-based support and horse riding, generates profits.

The farmer was unaware of his use of agroforestry practices, which was revealed to him by a lecture given within the frame of the AFINET project. He didn't know if there was any support for it, so he didn't use it to create and maintain his agroforestry system. He trained himself, informed and gathered experience from other farmers. In order to establish such a system properly, the farmer needs

• enough land for the planned livestock
• to provide adequate accommodation in animal housing facilities
• water and electricity available in the area (as long as it is not available, do not engage in animal husbandry)
• to provide adequate feed supply

Description of used technics during establishing of agroforestry systems The wood pasture was formed in several phases: firstly the harvesting of excess trees and then the scrubbing. It was necessary to employ logging workers who harvested the selected pieces of wood and then removed the scrub with a forestry shrub cutter. The basis for the selection of trees was their variety. In order of importance: wild cherry apple, wild pear, ash, maple. The density was determined by the owner and he decided which tree could remain. Older trees took precedence if there was no conflict with thinning aspects (ie. reduction of support due to increased crown dimensions). Threats/Challenges

• Avoid overgrazing
• Adjust animal density appropriately
• Provide adequate accommodation in animal housing facilities
• Chemical treatments to control invasive weeds and shrubs (nettle, euphorbia, cirsium, blackthorn, blackberry) must not be applied and mown is permitted only after May, as the area receives agri-environmental support
• It is also important to adjust the density of the trees and to maximize the amount of support
• Maintaining the health of trees

Since the establishment of the wooded pasture, the business has been profitable and has fulfilled the farmer’s hopes. The agroforestry system meets the needs of the farmer with regard to meat and herbs. An additional source of income is the 4 horses under contract, so it is advisable to combine grazing with animals under contract if the right amount of feed is available. It is also worth linking grazing with organic farming, because by officially becoming an organic farmer, land support has increased.

It is important, but not necessarily easy, to maintain the balance of the lawn. It is important to have a „clear”, well maintained lawn instead of a green area with weeds.

Future plans

The use of horse manure to fertilize wild fruits in the area. Establishment of a Vietnam pot-bellied pig breed because it is smaller in size and easier to keep

Entrepreneurial attitude (overview of support systems, accounting, financial planning of innovation), agricultural knowledge (animal care), and botanical knowledge (knowledge of major plant species, recognition of invasive plants) to be important. In order to optimally maintain the lawn and effectively control invasive plants, more in-depth botanical knowledge is required than that of the average farmer.