Welsh farmers leading the way with innovative trials

SIXTEEN FARMS TO TEST OUT NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS

- WITH ANDREW FORGRAVE

SIXTEEN Welsh farm businesses are set to trial new ideas, thanks to funding from Farming Connect. From harnessing drone technology to measuring pasture quality to equipping sheep with state-of-the-art tracking devices to deter theft, these projects promise to strengthen individual farm businesses and, in turn, benefit the wider agricultural sector across Wales.

Farming Connect's popular 'Try Out Fund' has a proven track record of backing diverse and inventive projects. In previous rounds, farmers have explored everything from growing tea and commercially producing walnuts to bi-cropping maize with sunflowers. This latest initiative sees farmers awarded funding to experiment with fresh approaches directly on their land.

The successful applicants represent a broad spectrum of Welsh agriculture, spanning dairy, arable, beef, sheep, poultry, and horticulture. This diverse range of projects truly showcases the spirit of innovation thriving in our rural communities.

In Meirionnydd, a dairy farmer is investigating sainfoin, a high-protein legume, by trialling three different establishment methods.

The goal is to pinpoint two diverse sward types for alternating five-year leys, aiming for more sustainable forage production.