10 June 2019
Farming Connect has appointed maths graduate Alan Armstrong as development officer for Denbighshire. Alan, who farms at Llanrhaeadr, will temporarily take over from Elen Williams who is currently on maternity leave.
Brought up on his family’s lowland farm, this former maths teacher now spends most of his spare time helping his father manage and develop the family farm. In recent years, influenced by his interest in sheep genetics and trialling more efficient rearing systems to improve profit levels, Alan persuaded his father to sell all the beef cattle in order to focus on their flock of around 250-300 continental cross ewes and finishing 300 store lambs, which currently sell at local markets. Having himself tapped into many Farming Connect support services and undertaken a number of subsidised practical training courses, Alan believes he will be a persuasive advocate when it comes to encouraging more farmers in his area to find out how they too can be helped to improve their personal and business skills as well as increasing on-farm efficiency in order to achieve optimum profit levels.
Alan, an Aberystwyth University mathematics graduate, then studied teacher training at Bangor University, before taking up his first post as a secondary school maths teacher in nearby Llanrwst. Although he found teaching rewarding, Alan was keen to return to his true roots and work in an agricultural environment. He joined a large local veterinary practice which also had its own farm, where he enjoyed the combination of administrative duties and hands-on farming before moving on to take up a new role of animal health adviser for a major agricultural supplies company.
Alan says he’s looking forward to using both his aptitude for figures and his knowledge of farming in his new role with Farming Connect.
“Having a head for figures means I’m always keen to encourage farmers to focus on profit as well as performance.
“Farming Connect can help businesses on both counts, and I will be speaking from personal experience when it comes to promoting projects like business planning, nutrient management planning and grazing strategies, which are critical to the success of all farms.”
A keen footballer, Alan says that the fixtures arranged by his local league keep him busy during the summer months, but he is very much looking forward extending his network of farmers in Denbighshire.
Alan will be a regular visitor to both Ruthin and St. Asaph markets, and he’s hoping you’ll get in touch if you feel he can help you with any challenges or issues. He will be taking over the five discussion groups set up by his predecessor, where the focus is on supporting dairy, beef and sheep farmers.
Alan can be contacted by mobile: 07985 379904 or email: alan.armstrong@menterabusnes.co.uk