Small Parks, Rotative Grazing, and No-Till Seeding in Family Farming

Fonte do Prior is a 330-hectare family-run farm in Portugal with 200 hectares of montado (cork oak woodland) and 90 hectares of irrigated arable land. It uses a small-park grazing system for 200 Charolais cattle, improving pasture utilization and animal management. The system enables full pasture recovery by rotating grazing areas and supports direct seeding, reducing costs and increasing forage yield. This approach enhances soil health by boosting organic matter and reducing compaction. The farm is managed by Joaquim Mira under the Sociedade Agrícola Fonte do Prior. Funding from the European Union.