Ley farming strategy for dry areas

Lucerne farming on Åke Johansson's farm in Öland, Sweden, employs rapid sowing techniques to combat drought, minimizing soil compaction and ensuring sowing within 12 hours of tillage. Using a harrow-mounted seeder, 6 hectares are sown in four hours. Lucerne is inoculated and mixed with grasses for better establishment. Controlled traffic farming and soil dams maintain groundwater levels, while immediate harvesting during drought protects yields. The 250-hectare farm supports 320 dairy cows and produces 10,500 kg of milk annually through moisture-retention strategies tailored to local conditions.