Tomorrows Wool

Bradford Farming是Bradford Estates的手工农业业务，位于什罗普郡/斯塔福德郡边界，种植5，000英亩的可组合作物，土豆，生菜，野花种子和绵羊，作为可持续混合农业系统的一部分。我们建议探索开发一种基于羊毛的园艺行业新除草剂产品的可行性。羊毛是一种低价值的产品，在扣除剪切成本后，最多只能勉强维持平衡。通过开发新产品来提高其价值将有助于提高养羊业的盈利能力。商业园艺行业正在应对一系列挑战，包括化学除草剂减少，商业运营中即将禁止使用泥炭，季节性极端条件对生长条件的挑战越来越大。几乎没有非化学除草剂，种植者严重依赖人工除草。替代材料面临一系列可持续性挑战，我们相信羊毛是一种可持续和可行的替代材料。新的羊毛杂草抑制剂将在商业观赏（玫瑰）和食用（蓝莓）园艺作物中进行试验。我们相信羊毛可以提供一种可持续的，英国生产的，可行的杂草控制，使种植者和牧羊人受益。这个想法是在与寻求可持续解决方案的食用和观赏园艺种植者以及寻求羊毛增值的绵羊生产者讨论后产生的。

Bradford Farming is the in-hand farming business of Bradford Estates, located in the Shropshire/Staffordshire borders, farming 5,000 acres producing combineable crops, potatoes, lettuce, wildflower seed, and sheep as part of a sustainable mixed farming system.We propose to explore the feasibility of developing a new weed suppressant product for the horticulture sector, based on wool. Wool is a low value product which barely breaks even at best after shearing costs. Enhancing its value through developing a new product will support improved profitability of sheep farming. The commercial horticulture sector is grappling a number of challenges including reduced chemical weed control options, an upcoming ban on peat in commercial operations, increasingly challenging growing conditions with seasonal extremes.Few non-chemical weed control options exist, and growers rely heavily on manual weeding. Alternative materials have a range of sustainability challenges, and we believe wool offers a sustainable and viable alternative. The novel wool weed suppressant will be trialled in commercial ornamental (roses) and edible (blueberries) horticultural crops.We believe wool could provide a sustainable, UK-produced, viable weed control, benefiting growers and sheep farmers UK-wide. The idea has arisen from discussion with edible and ornamental horticulture growers, seeking sustainable solutions; and sheep producers seeking to add value to wool.