Why graze orchards with sheep?
- Sheep can reduce the cost of grass mowing in orchards
- Sheep can promote nutrient retention and cycling within the orchard
- Sheep can eat fallen leaves (a refuge for apple scab spores) and fruits (a refuge for pests such as sawfly andcodling moth) which should result in reduced need for pesticide applications
- Sheep could reduce vole populations (which can damage trees)
- Grass can be used to maintain ewes or fatten lambs, which can increase farm income