Farming

Utilising Farming Connect helps young farmer prepare for greater role on sheep farm

Published

11 months ago

February 27, 2024

FARMING CONNET’S training and development opportunities have helped Ernie Richards learn about best practice in agriculture and the latest thinking on technical and business management ideas, giving the young farmer the confidence and knowledge to take on a bigger role in his employer’s upland sheep farming enterprise.

Ernie manages a flock of pedigree Lleyn ewes for Stuart and Helen Morris at 350-acre Wernoog, near Clyro, Powys.

His understanding of flock health and performance and the farm’s environmental obligations has been augmented by multiple Farming Connect accredited learning courses and wider activities, including discussion group membership.

Ernie claims that continuous professional development and learning to do everything well has benefitted both him and the Morris family.

As his knowledge and confidence have grown, the couple have been able to take a step back, moving off the farm to allow Ernie and his family to move into the farmhouse to put him at the centre of the day-to-day management of the enterprise.

As he steps up into that role, he will draw on the Farming Connect Leading and Managing training course he completed in 2023.

“We will have two students with us for up to six weeks during lambing and for the first time it will be me who will be responsible for managing them,’’ he explains.

“I learned so much on the Farming Connect Leading and Managing training course that will help with that.’’

The flock they will be lambing is a closed flock of 1,000 pedigree Lleyns.

Reliance on wormers in the high health status flock has been reduced thanks to faecal egg counting (FEC). To further his knowledge on this, Ernie has completed a Farming Connect Introduction to Worm Control and Faecal Egg Counting for Sheep Producers course.

“We know we have resistance to certain drenches, using FEC means we now only treat when the lambs need it,’’ he explains.

There is a strict culling policy for ewes that experience problems at lambing, those with poor udders or persistent lameness.

Maximising the value of those cull ewes is an important income stream for the business and this is again where Ernie’s utilisation of Farming Connect services has helped. The subject was a theme at one of the meetings for the Farming Connect discussion group he is a member of, covering topics such as selling at the right time.

Membership of that discussion group allows Ernie to share ideas, problems and solutions with other like-minded farmers, and benefit from the technical expertise of speakers such as Phillipa Page, of Flock Health Ltd.

“We are all focussed on the same sort of things, we are very open with each other and keep in touch between meetings via a Whatsapp group,’’ he explains.

“We now have some funding to look at iceberg diseases and to blood sample our flocks for those.’’

Similarly, Erine was fortunate to be selected for the Agri Academy in 2021 and will be reaping the benefits of the invaluable support network and friendships forged through the Academy for many years to come.

As the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations are rolled out across Wales, Ernie has also been making use of Farming Connect services to understand what that means for the business at Wernoog.

Last year he completed a training course on environmental awareness, audit and management of farm businesses.

“This focussed on the new rules and it helped me get my head around what we needed to do to be compliant with those,’’ says Ernie.

A record of the certificates he has gained and courses completed are all stored on Storfa Sgiliau, Farming Connect’s online data storage tool.

“Although I have paper copies of the certificates too, it is really useful to have everything stored online and in one easily accessible place, through my BOSS (Business Online Support Service) account,’’ says Ernie. You can also download a complete report of all your records, all in a single document.

He says he is fortunate that Stuart and Helen recognise the value of ongoing training and development.

“They have allowed me time away from the farm to do these things and I am grateful for that.

“I am trying to move forward all the time, trying to understand as much as I can about farming, and they recognise that this will help them too.’’

Looking to the future, Ernie, a member of the NFU Cymru Next Generation Group, sees good opportunities for the next generation of farmers.

“New entrants are the lifeblood of any vibrant industry, and farming is no exception,’’ he says.

“It can be a difficult sector to get a foothold in for young people with no background in agriculture but going forward I think we will see many more different ways to help make that happen.’’

Keep up to date with the latest Farming Connect has to offer you and your business by visiting our website, social media channels or by speaking to your local Development Officer. The Agri Academy application window is open NOW and will close on 15 April 2024.

Crime

Farmer cleared of restraining order breach at Haverfordwest court

Published

7 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been found not guilty of breaching a restraining order after being accused of referencing a protected individual in a Facebook post.

Philip Stoddart, 58, of Monkhill Farm, St Ishmaels, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 20) to face the charge. The prosecution, led by Ann Griffiths on behalf of the crown, alleged that between December 4 and December 13, 2023, Stoddart made a Facebook post that, by inference, referred to a person he was prohibited from contacting under a restraining order imposed by Swansea Crown Court on April 16, 2021.

The restraining order, issued under Section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, barred Stoddart from making any form of contact with her.

Prosecutors argued that the Facebook post constituted a breach of the order, contrary to Section 363 of the same act.

Stoddart denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea during a prior hearing on October 1, 2024.

Magistrates Professor N. Negus, Mr. J. Steadman, and Mrs. J. Morris presided over the trial, which concluded on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, the bench found Stoddart not guilty, dismissing the case.

The dismissal brings to a close legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

Farming

Get up to £5,000 for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

11 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

FARMERS in Wales are being called to apply for the next round of funding for on-farm trials.

The Farming Connect initiative, which has funded projects such as growing lucerne in Brecon, is inviting applications for the Try Out Fund.

The new application window opens on January 27, 2025, and will run until February 17.

Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund trials that experiment with new ideas on their farms.

The last round of funding supported several projects, including integrated pest management at a pick-your-own strawberry enterprise.

Menna Williams, the Farming Connect project lead, said: “Farming Connect has developed the Try Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment.”

She added: “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.”

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

Ms Williams said: “Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100 per cent effort right from the start.”

Projects should focus on enhancing production efficiencies and profitability while ensuring environmental protection through adherence to sustainable land management principles.

A guidance handbook is accessible on the Farming Connect website, providing support for farmers in outlining their projects and completing the application process.

To apply, individuals must be registered with Farming Connect and capable of finishing their projects by January 2026.

Ms Williams explained: “Funding can be used for technical assistance, sampling, testing and other reasonable expenses such as those relating to short-term hire of specialist equipment or facilities directly relating to the project.”

The findings will be shared with other producers in Wales by collaborating with a Farming Connect team member.

Interested parties can apply on the Farming Connect website.

To receive the link or get further information, contact [email protected].

Farming

Funding window to re-open for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

11 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WITH Farming Connect-funded trials ranging from growing lucerne in Brecon to establishing sunflowers as a companion crop with maize, farmers are being invited to apply for the next round of funding from the initiative that brought these projects to life.

The new application window for the Try Out Fund opens on 27January2025 and will run until 17 February. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund on-farm trials that experiment with new ideas. The last round of funding saw farmers supported for several projects including integrated pest management at pick your own strawberry enterprise.

Project lead Menna Williams of Farming Connect said the aim is for farmers to compare different treatments or management systems – the project is not intended to fund new equipment she stressed.

“Farming Connect has developed the Try-Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment,’’ she said. “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.’’

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

“Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100% effort right from the start,’’ said Ms Williams.

Suitable projects must aim to improve production efficiencies and profitability whilst protecting the environment by aligning with sustainable land management outcomes. A guidance handbook is available on the Farming Connect website to help farmers scope their project and complete the application form.

Applicants must be registered with Farming Connect and be able to complete their projects by January 2026.