Working together for lakes and the sea – best examples from Swedish farming

The Baltic region is home to nine different countries and around 90 million people— yet we are more connected than you may think. The catchment area extends to four times the size of the Baltic Sea itself, making it extra critical to be mindful of our activities on land.

The Baltic Stewardship Initiative aims to amplify knowledge and experience exchange among farmers, and between farmers and experts. The project highlights good examples of farmers who are actively practising reducing the leakage of plant nutrients to surrounding waterways, lakes, and sea, and who optimize their use of plant nutrients on their farms.

We highlight three Swedish farmers who provide information and tips on how to carry out these measures on your farm. The videos have been developed in close cooperation with the Swedish Farmers’ Association LRF and with the help of the Nyköping Rivers Water Conservation Association.

Elisabet Svensk – organic farmer at Valla Boställe farm

Elisabet Svensk’s farm is located in Björkvik and focuses on seed cultivation. The rivers and waterways surrounding the farm and its fields flow into Lake Yngaren and the Baltic Sea. Elisabet has implemented several measures to reduce nutrient leakage with the help of coordinator Jenny Jochnick. Jenny helps with everything from ensuring the right permits are in place, making a notification of water activity, to applying for various types of financial support.

“Anyone who has thoughts about doing something should not hesitate, to seek help at an early stage. Then you get help with that annoying administrative part of applying for permits and help with finding the right contractors. In my case, I think that all the measures I have taken have given a good result, which I absolutely do not regret.” – Elisabet Svensk

Sven Hermelin runs a farm in Östra Kulltorp

Sven Hermelin works with crop cultivation and forestry on his farm in Sörmland. The waterways around Sven’s farmland also flow into Lake Yngaren and through it, the Nyköping River empties water from the farm into the Baltic Sea. At Östra Kulltorp, several steps have been taken to reduce emissions of phosphorus and nitrogen – such as structural liming, soil mapping, and N-sensors. In addition, Sven has created a large wetland. Sven has also received help and support from the action coordinator Jenny Jochnick.

“I think it has worked perfectly. I have had good consultants and contractors. I can only be happy about what we have done. I will continue to get involved, there are many projects to tackle. You don’t have to do everything, but just do something.” – Sven Hermelin

Anna and Hans Samuelsson run Kalset Milk

Anna and Hans Samuelsson run Kalset Mjölk together with their employees, a farm with an organic dairy herd of more than 250 cows. The Kalset Milk farm is connected to the Nissan river which flows into the Kattegat in Laholm Bay. To optimize the farm’s manure, Anna and Hans Samuelsson have invested in biogas. By closing this loop and using the manure to produce energy, the farm’s resources can be utilised to the maximum. The biogas plant now supplies the farm with electricity and heat, and the manure has been refined. Although the design, permit applications, and search for financial support felt like a challenge, it was resolved with help from colleagues who had already made the same investment into biogas and the company that sold the technology.

“The feeling throughout the whole process was actually that it went very smoothly. Everyone was so on board and felt that this is the future.” – Anna and Hans Samuelsson

These are just a few examples of farmers going above and beyond, often on their own initiative, to protect nature and help put a stop to eutrophication. There are many more examples of farmers carrying out similar sustainable farming practices around the region. You can learn more about them through the WWF Baltic Farmer Award – a competition where WWF recognizes individual farmers who are actively taking measures to reduce nutrient runoff and puts a spotlight on their exemplary farms.

Original article from the WWF Baltic Stewardship Initiative