THERE are currently four fantastic share farming opportunities available in Wales through Farming Connect’s ‘Start to Farm’ programme. If you have the right skills and experience, your future career path and destiny could be about to change.

Since 2015, 75 ambitious young farmers desperate to combine both the strategic management and practical side of farming have been matched up with Welsh landowners wanting to ease their workload or transition to retirement. The new partnerships have all been facilitated through ‘Start to Farm’.

Originally launched under its former name, ‘Venture’, the programme’s remit is to introduce landowners, referred to as ‘providers’, to opportunity ‘seekers’.  Once a match is made, both parties are offered a range of both subsidised and fully funded support services including mentoring, training, business, legal and financial advice which help get the arrangement over the line in a mutually beneficial way and that protects both sides.

“Gaining access to land and capital can seem impossible for many young farmers if there is no family farm where their skills, energy and input are needed,” says Eiry Williams, manager of the ‘Start to Farm’ programme.  Eiry explains that with four share farming opportunities currently available throughout Wales, in sectors including dairy, beef cattle, horticulture and organic, this might be the perfect time to check out the ‘Start to Farm’ section on the Farming Connect website.

“There’s no optimum time to either apply or commission Farming Connect to promote a share farming opportunity, but with many farmers preparing for the end of the financial year and planning ahead, this could be a great time to either seek out a new opportunity or bring on board a young farmer whose input could enable you to take a step back from day-to-day farming, without necessarily ceasing altogether,” says Eiry.

Not surprisingly, ‘seekers’ will need to prove their credentials. Experience of the relevant farm, forestry or horticulture sector, business acumen and focus, enthusiasm, confidence and a great work ethic are obvious essentials, but equally important will be their willingness to help find solutions to challenges and to help identify and implement new or more sustainable ways of managing the business.

“All farmers face external pressures such as the weather, market fluctuations and input costs, but for some landowners a willingness to consider new ideas and embrace different or innovative ways of working can breathe new life into a business which has perhaps not moved with the times or had the resources to capitalise on opportunities.

“By partnering with an established farmer or landowner, young farmers and new entrants can make a massive contribution to the overall viability and prosperity of a business, while avoiding full exposure to any potential issues,” said Eiry.

There are many different share farming or partnership models to consider ranging from farm business tenancies to contract or share farming arrangements and equity partnerships. Some will include an agreement that allows the incomer to gradually buy into the business over time, which provides a structured pathway without requiring a large upfront financial commitment.

“Effort, hard work, new ideas and skills will be rewarded by mentorship, the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge about farm management, business strategy and decision-making, giving the landowner the opportunity to ease back from the labour commitment while remaining involved.

“The most successful share farming arrangements encourage open and honest communications, a mutual respect for each other’s opinions and a willingness to investigate and implement new business strategies which will lead to a more sustainable and profitable business long-term.  

For further information visit ‘Start to Farm’ on the Farming Connect website or contact your local development officer. 

MAJOR investment across South West Wales will help narrow the digital divide between urban and rural areas in a boost for agriculture and remote communities.

Forming part of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s £25m digital infrastructure programme, a dedicated rural workstream is committed to delivering high-quality connectivity to places where the cost of connecting homes and businesses would otherwise be too high for commercial investment alone to be viable.

Investing in high-speed broadband in rural communities across Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea would help enable the introduction of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to benefit businesses including farms.

This technology would help farmers monitor crops, livestock, machinery and environmental conditions remotely and in real time, potentially leading to improved decision-making, resource efficiency and cost savings.

Supporting initiatives such as UK Government’s Project Gigabit is also a key aspect of the digital infrastructure programme’s rural workstream. Local digital champions are on board to ensure communities are aware of when applications for voucher schemes are being accepted.

In addition to Government initiatives, the programme has developed the ‘Better Broadband Infill Project’, and a commercial partner is now being sought to build a gigabit-capable network to serve rural communities with broadband speeds of less than 30mbps which are not in existing commercial plans or interventions such as Project Gigabit.

With the rise of IoT in agriculture paired with the increased pressures to reduce waste and meet sustainability goals, access to high-speed internet will be critical for seamlessly connecting these technologies.

Rhys Jones, of Arwain DGC, said: “By collaboratively supporting investment in rural network connectivity, will help to enhance livestock health, raise production efficiencies and harness the future economic sustainability of local Welsh farmers. Innovation and Technology will be invaluable to secure the reputation of Welsh agriculture as leaders in animal health and welfare”.

“Rural connectivity is essential for long-term economic growth. When rural areas have access to reliable high-speed internet, it opens up a world of opportunities, and empowers rural communities to become more resilient in the face of future challenges”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Chair of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, said: “As we look to a future where every industry, including agriculture, is seamlessly integrated into the digital economy, rural digital connectivity plays a pivotal role.

“The Swansea Bay City Deal digital infrastructure programme’s approach of working together with both the public and private sectors, alongside the UK and Welsh governments, is providing vital support to ensure that farmers and rural communities are equipped with the tools needed to overcome the challenges of transitioning to an increasingly connected world.”

Visit the case study page to watch a video on the importance of rural digital infrastructure and the future of farming.

For more information on broadband connectivity in your area, you can get in touch with your local digital champions. Funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal’s digital infrastructure programme, the digital champions are continuing to work closely with suppliers, their partners and the UK and Welsh governments to ensure that rural communities are better connected.

ORIGIN SOIL NUTRITION has said it has appointed Owain John as a nutrition agronomist to support customers in Wales. He is looking forward to assisting merchants and farmers across the country with Origin’s comprehensive range of soil nutrition products.

Owain is well known in the Welsh agricultural industry, working for Origin’s sister company Humber Palmer and, before that, Wynnstay. Growing up on a family livestock farm in Carmarthen, Welsh speaker Owain appreciates the daily challenges farmers face and is committed to helping them become more productive with nutrition inputs.

“With Origin’s bespoke product range, I can already see innovative ways to help the farmers I support in Wales. Increasing nitrogen use efficiency through prescription blends, and ensuring we are applying the right fertiliser for the crop and the soil, will make a real difference on farm. All farmers and growers are looking for something extra and I believe there is great potential with Origin’s enhanced efficiency range of fertiliser.”

Alongside supporting farmers and merchants, Owain will use his role to navigate the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) options.

“This will be a key part of my responsibility in the immediate future as SFS in Wales will go live in 2026. I’ll be attending meetings to understand the implications and feed this information down to farm level, so farmers can maximise the options available to them.

“Another hot topic is Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, as the whole country is included, which can place a great strain on farming businesses. Supporting farmers to find solutions will make a real difference to logistics and help to drive change from farm level.”

Owain is a trainee FACTS advisor and has already started with Origin Soil Nutrition.