Technology ‘key to Welsh farming future’
Agritechnology development is the key factor that will drive the growth and productivity of Welsh agriculture, according to Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones.
Improving agricultural productivity was a challenge because of rising global demand for food, Mr Jones told the union’s autumn conference at Aberystwyth on 25 November.
“While bad weather and other factors such as disease outbreaks will have a short-term effect on productivity, it will be the longer-term advances and developments in agritechnologies that will affect the growth, productivity and success of the sector as a whole,” he said.
Technological advances in agriculture were not the result of adopting a “one-tool” technique, but a package of technologies to suit different farm types and systems, he added.
The conference theme was “Technology and research” and featured speakers covering a range of topics including performance recording, renewable energy and advances in meat grading.
Among the speakers was Dr Russell Morphew, of the Institute of Biological and Environmental Research (IBERS), Aberystwyth, who is working on a project to develop a liver fluke vaccine.
He said a recent immunotherapy trial in goats had demonstrated a significant reduction in the level of liver lesions. “Immunotherapy is ideally the gold standard because there are no residues,” he said.
There were words of caution on one of farming’s biggest growth sectors – renewable energy – with land agent Philip Meade suggesting there were too many salesmen and not enough independent advisers.
Although there are good opportunities for farmers, Mr Meade warned them to be selective. And if they opted for an exclusivity agreement, they should ensure the agreement was short and not restrictive.
“Many developers employ agents to sign up farmers. These agents are paid to get farmers to sign options – they are not there to represent the best interest of the farmer,” he said.
Rental incomes varied, but farmers should expect at least 8-10% of the gross income, Mr Meade added.