PEMBROKESHIRE farmers and land managers are being encouraged to apply for the latest round of Ffermio Bro support, with the next Expression of Interest window now open.

The scheme supports practical, farmer-led projects within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, helping to improve nature, water quality, habitat links, traditional boundaries, wildfire resilience and the wider farmed landscape.

The programme has already supported a range of projects across Pembrokeshire, including habitat restoration, watercourse fencing, traditional boundary restoration, firebreak creation and woodland connectivity work.

FARMERS SUPPORTED

During its first year, Ffermio Bro supported 37 farms and land managers across the National Park, with projects covering just under 3,000 hectares.

The work included more than four kilometres of hedgerow creation and restoration, over 800 metres of watercourse improvement and protection works, and around 27 hectares of woodland support and management.

A number of collaborative projects have also focused on improving biodiversity and ecosystem resilience across the National Park.

Arwel Evans, Conservation Farm Liaison Officer with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said: “The first year of Ffermio Bro has shown what can be achieved when farmers and land managers are supported to deliver practical conservation work on the ground.

“We’ve worked with farms across the National Park on projects ranging from habitat restoration and water quality improvements to traditional boundary work and wildfire resilience.

“Looking ahead to the next two years, we’re particularly keen to support projects that improve water quality and river resilience across catchments such as the Eastern and Western Cleddau, Nyfer and Gwaun.

“That includes practical measures such as riparian fencing, buffer strips, healthier soils and habitat management that help keep rivers clean and resilient for the future.”

FARM-LED PROJECTS

Gareth Waters, Ffermio Bro Advisor, added: “One of the strengths of the scheme is that projects are designed around individual farms and local priorities.

“We’re keen to support practical projects that deliver long-term benefits for both farming businesses and the landscape, and we’d encourage interested farmers to contact us before the deadline.”

The current application window for Ffermio Bro: Farming within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will remain open until Monday, June 22.

Further information on the scheme, eligibility and how to submit an Expression of Interest can be found at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/ffermio-bro.

Caption: Farmers and land managers within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park are invited to apply for the latest round of Ffermio Bro landscape and conservation funding.

FARMERS are being warned that high summer temperatures could have long-lasting effects on autumn-born calves.

Animal health specialists say heat stress in pregnant cows can lead to weaker immunity, poorer growth rates and a higher risk of disease in calves after birth.

Nia Williams, Technical Livestock Manager at Nettex, said farmers may not immediately link hot weather now with calf performance several months later, but the impact during pregnancy can be significant.

She said: “Cows calving this autumn are at greater risk of producing calves with impaired immunity, which can increase susceptibility to diseases such as scours during the first weeks of life.”

Colostrum critical

Heat stress can reduce feed intake, alter metabolic function and suppress immunity in cows. It can also affect mammary gland development during the dry period, potentially impacting milk production in the next lactation and calf performance after birth.

Ms Williams said: “Calves born to heat-stressed cows are often lighter at birth and can show reduced growth rates both before and after weaning. That makes colostrum management absolutely critical.”

Farmers are being advised to ensure calves receive colostrum quickly after birth and to monitor passive transfer levels during the first week of life.

A blood test between one and seven days of age can help assess how well antibodies from colostrum have been absorbed into the calf’s bloodstream.

Ms Williams said this can help identify calves at greater risk of health problems, while also giving farmers a useful measure of how well colostrum management is working across the herd.

Support after birth

Calves that struggle to suckle or appear weak in the first few days may need extra nutritional support.

Ms Williams said energy-boosting supplements can be used alongside colostrum to help encourage feeding and support early vitality.

Electrolytes can also play an important role in helping calves recover from scours, which may be caused by pathogens including Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella and Rotavirus.

The warning is not limited to calves. Freshly calved cows can also struggle with reduced appetite, dehydration and electrolyte loss, particularly during hot weather.

Ms Williams said: “Water intake often declines before and during calving, increasing the risk of dehydration. During calving, cows can lose close to 60 litres of water through blood and uterine fluids, along with significant electrolyte losses.”

She warned that water alone may not be enough to restore electrolyte balance and normal cellular function after calving.

Farmers are being urged to support cows immediately after calving with energy, calcium, vitamins and electrolytes to aid recovery, encourage intake and support overall health and milk production during this critical period.

The warning comes as farmers prepare for the autumn calving season following periods of high summer temperatures.

A CALL for a north Pembrokeshire farm to be able to diversify through the bottling of water from its well has been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, a Mr George, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for a change of use of part of an existing agricultural shed to a use for the bottling of water as a form of farm diversification at Trerhys, near St Dogmaels, Cardigan.

A supporting statement said: “The water bottling plant will be run and under control by the applicant, who also has direct control of the associated farm known as Trerhys. The water bottling plant seeks to diversify the farm income to provide future economic sustainability and increase revenue from the land.

“The increase in profits generated by the water bottling plant business will be siphoned back into the farm business, to allow for necessary improvements and works to the farm to ensure its future within a worsening agricultural economy.”

It said the profits would be used for on-going repair and replacement of existing fencing around the farm which owns significant land, along with investing and increasing the suckler herd on the farm.

“The applicant underwent major surgery back in 2023 and had to cut back hours on the farm to recover. This meant that the suckler herd dipped in numbers and due to profitability, the farm has yet to be able to recover to its previous numbers.

“This increase in profit will allow the capital to be reinvested in the suckler herd, increase profit margins and overall profitability for the farm.”

It also said the profits would be “channelled into large repairs and overall, like-for-like replacement of a number of existing farm buildings,” and, depending on returns, “there may be scope to invest in the existing farmhouse on site”.

It concluded: “Overall, whilst the water bottling plant will take some time to become established and generate suitable profits, once established significant profits, these will be reinvested as above into the existing farm business to ensure its future can be secured for longer within an uncertain agricultural economy.

“Without diversification, the farm is set to reduce further in size and the buildings and farmyard become further run down and unsightly in the landscape.”

An officer report recommending approval said the scheme for Trerhys Farm, 1.7km to the north of Moylegrove, would use one bay of an existing shed and would “utilise the existing water source from a well within an existing agricultural field to the north of the farm complex”.

Concerns were raised by three members of the public on the grounds of a query on the water source and transportation of the finished product, and potential noise issues.

The report said a noise assessment found no detrimental impacts in the locality, with Highways officers having no concerns on transportation issues.

The officer report concluded: “Following careful consideration of the application and its merits, it is concluded that the proposed scheme represents an appropriate form of development in this location.”

The application was conditionally approved.