1 September 2025
Farmers and growers trialling different farming techniques and innovations as participants in the Farming Connect Our Farms network are hosting events in September when other farmers will learn what they have discovered from projects ranging from targeted selective treatment for sheep to intercropping maize.
For the second year, Farming Connect will hold a series of ‘Visit Our Farms’ events in September on its network of beef, sheep and dairy holdings and at businesses producing vegetables, fruit and flowers for the horticulture sector.
Last year there were 15 of these knowledge exchange events but they proved so popular with the industry that 2025 sees that number increased to 22.
Each provides opportunities for other farmers and growers to gain valuable insights into trials and projects that have concluded or are ongoing.
In Powys, farmers will see first-hand the measures Roger and Dyddanwy Pugh have put in place to maximise feed efficiency and daily liveweight gains, to improve their business for the future.
Together, Roger and Dyddanwy run a spring calving herd of 60 Limousin and Aberdeen Angus cross suckler cows along with a flock of 300 Texel cross ewes.
Topics for discussion will include working out the real cost of iceberg diseases in sheep and liver fluke risk mapping your farm – and the impact of biological products on grass quality and yield.
Roger says soil health is important to every farming business therefore there is great value in learning more about which products may be beneficial in improving forage quality, mitigating abiotic stress, and supporting crop yields while decreasing reliance on chemical inputs.
“There are so many products on the market and there is a lot of talk about how amazing they are so we were really keen to gain knowledge on whether they actually do work,’’ he says.
“They can be very costly but if they can improve our soil and the productivity of our land they might save us money in the long term.’’
At the event, we will also hear more about the Welsh herbal ley project and results from the field trial so far.’
Speakers will include Dr Rhys Aled Jones of Aberystwyth University, Dr Peers Davies, of the University of Liverpool, Dr Non Williams, of Farming Connect, and Hugo Ellis, of Terrafarmer.
Technologies related to the project work at Crickie Farm will be demonstrated on various stalls at the event.
The value of this event and others in this series of farm walks was summed up by people who attended last year's programme, with 99% of attendees stating that they had learnt something new and 93% planning to make changes to their business following the events.
Farming Connect sector officer Lynwen Mathias, who is overseeing the project work at Crickie, says this event and others offer an excellent opportunity for farmers to see a diversity of projects in action on commercial farms.
“If a farmer is considering implementing similar practices, the events are a chance to see the projects for themselves,’’ she says.
“Or it may be that by coming along to an event like this, farmers might learn more about ideas that they might not have thought of but which offer an opportunity to make their own businesses more resilient.’’
The event at Crickie will take place on 15 September from 4pm - 7pm. Refreshments will be provided therefore visitors are advised to book a place in advance of the event.
For a full list of the farm walks in Powys and across the country click here.