Description
In Campania Region (Southern Italy), a group of six farmers facing financial difficulties, decided to join in a cooperative to make the most of their resources. In light of the difficulties that they faced in lasts years (taxes increase, production costs increase, fluctuation in milk prices), they bought in cooperation some machineries, such as a high-tech mower with working width till 3.80 m, and a round baler, which they would otherwise not be able to buy. The innovation in their grassland system consist in coordinating both the rotation of cultivated species and the timing of the machinery utilization. In fact, their forage system is aimed to obtain a diversified forage of high quality, managing an accurate rotation of several species and mixtures. Grassland rotation is 7-8 years, which are dedicated to alfalfa for 4 years and to grasses/legumes chosen accurately, such as Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Thus, both the crop rotation as well as the haymaking method are of pivotal importance. For this reason, the farmers decided to buy a hay dryer system, that avoid mold formation, which is unfortunately frequent in this very humid area. These innovations led to a more efficient temporary grassland rotation and to a better accessibility to mechanization concerning tillage and forage conservation, therefore a better forage quality and a greater forage production.
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