16 Welsh farms paid for novel on-farm research

Sixteen Welsh farm businesses are set to trial new ideas, with funding from Farming Connect’s “Try Out Fund”, aiming to strengthen their farm businesses while benefiting the wider agricultural sector across Wales.

The projects span the dairy, arable, beef, sheep, poultry, and horticulture sectors, and include harnessing drone technology, measuring pasture quality, and equipping sheep with state-of-the-art tracking devices. 

“This diverse range of trials highlights the innovative sprit of Welsh farmers and Farming Connects commitment to supporting new ideas,” a spokesperson said.

See also: How private cash is funding environmental measures

Embracing technology

A dairy farm in north Ceredigion is using drones to improve pasture quality assessment, while another project will fit sheep with devices to track their movement within the farm or a geofenced area, aiming to enhance security given ongoing livestock theft issues.

In Brecknock, a conservation grazing project will see native cattle fitted with “no-fence” wireless collars, enabling targeted grazing, enhancing habitat value on common land and farmland by controlling aggressive species such as bracken.

Many red meat projects are also delving into soil and livestock health – for example, in Brecknock, where herbal leys are being established and some varieties new to the UK are introduced. 

Lamb health and performance are also a key focus for three further projects, with one farm in south Montgomeryshire comparing two vitamin B12 injections to combat cobalt deficiency in 600 lambs.

In south Wales, another project is evaluating field-scale sphagnum moss cultivation techniques, hoping to open new avenues for the horticulture sector.