MEMBERS OF Welsh grassland societies are being offered free advice on technical topics, ranging from sward assessment to seeds mixture selection.

The initiative, launched at the Welsh Winter Fair, involves extension officers of the Grassland Development Centre, the technology transfer agency based at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Aberystwyth. Groups of six to 12 members can select from a list of 10 topics or nominate their own subject.

When possible, the group will meet an adviser on a member”s farm. Larger groups interested in one subject will be offered the chance to visit IGER.

The work is part of the Farming Connect initiative, which is funded jointly by the Welsh Assembly and EU.