News and Events
Farm teams up with Farming Connect to accelerate genetic potential of dairy herd
08 February 2024
A Conwy dairy farm is harnessing the power of genomics in a bid to accelerate genetic progress in its split block calving herd.
Rhydeden Farm, a 100-hectare holding, produces milk from 175 spring calving cows and...
Young entrant helps pig farmers solve succession dilemma
07 February 2024
A new share farming agreement on a Carmarthenshire heritage pig farm has provided an exciting business opportunity for a first-generation farmer and a succession strategy for the owners.
Hugh and Katharine Brookes had spent six years...
Dairy farm switches to grazing fodder beet as high-quality winter feed
06 February 2024
Grazing fodder beet as a winter crop for beef and dairy cattle is reducing wintering costs at a Pembrokeshire farm.
The James family currently grow 10 hectares (ha) for wintering dairy beef stores produced by their...
Future Opportunities for Sheep Genetics in Wales: Breeding for Improved Wool Quality
Dr Natalie Meades: IBERS, KEHub, Aberystwyth University.
January 2024
The shearing of a sheep’s fleece is a welfare essential animal husbandry practice that helps to protect sheep from ectoparasites and from developing heat stress in the summer months...
Episode 93 - Staff Management series- Episode 2: Staff contracts
Rhian Price is joined by Rhodri Jones, Director at Rural Advisor. Rhodri is a qualified solicitor that specialises in rural legal matters. Along side his work commitments he also farms a spring calving herd at Llanerfyl, Montgomeryshire with his wife...
How Farming Connect support gave grower confidence to launch veg box business
29 January 2024
On a smallholding near the Welsh coast, organic vegetables grown on two acres of land are feeding dozens of local families, one of a new wave of small-scale horticulture businesses emerging across Wales.
The vegetables are...
Episode 92 - An insight into the current situation in terms of the carbon footprint of beef and sheep farms in Wales
Cennydd Jones is joined by Non Williams, Carbon Specialist Officer at Farming Connect.
This episode is based on the findings of carbon footprint audits completed on 185 beef and sheep farms through the Farming Connect Advisory Service. The purpose of...
Welsh Pasture Project data shows 2023 was a good year for grass growth
25 January 2024
Data from the Farming Connect Welsh Pasture Project has shown that grass production in Wales in 2023 exceeded previous years, but managing it was challenging.
High levels of rainfall had caused very difficult grazing conditions for...
Starlings on Farm: Strategies to Protect and Control
Dr Natalie Meades: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
December 2023
Image by Woods, et al. (2022).
- Starlings are described as pests on farm where they help themselves to the energetically rich fractions within livestock feed, which can have negative effects...