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 aim to strengthen individual farm businesses and, in turn, benefit the wider agricultural sector across Wales.
Farming Connect's ‘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.
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. Meanwhile, in North Ceredigion, another dairy farm is embracing the future by using drones to improve pasture quality assessment, using technology for more efficient grassland management.
A Radnorshire broiler producer is tackling enterococcus lameness, a common infectious disease affecting poultry joints. They'll use a thermal fogging disinfectant in sheds before restocking, hoping to reduce incidence, protect bird health, and cut down on antibiotic use. The trial will closely monitor mortality rates, feed conversion ratios, and, crucially, antibiotic usage.
An Anglesey barley grower is exploring a compound fertiliser with protected phosphate combined with farmyard manure. The aim is to boost phosphate uptake in both spring and winter crops, leading to improved establishment, higher yields, and a better return on fertiliser investment. Further south in Montgomeryshire, trials are underway for maize cultivation and the benefits of variable rate nitrogen applications in winter wheat and winter oilseed rape, striving for more precise and efficient nutrient management.
In a direct response to the recent rise in livestock theft across Wales, one significant red meat sector project is focusing on tracking and monitoring technology. This trial will install and test various digital solutions on cluster farms, fitting sheep with devices to track their movement within the farm or a geofenced area, aiming to enhance security and provide peace of mind for farmers.
Beyond theft prevention, technology is also being harnessed for improved livestock management. In Brecknock, a conservation grazing project will fit native cattle with ‘no-fence' wireless collars. This innovative approach aims to test whether these collars can enable targeted grazing, enhancing habitat value on common land and farmland by controlling aggressive species like bracken. A similar system is also being trialled in an extensive grazing system in Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent to see if it can improve animal welfare, and environmental outcomes, particularly in areas where traditional fencing is challenging.
Many red meat projects are delving into soil and livestock health. In Brecknock, herbal leys are being established, introducing some varieties new to the UK. Lamb health and performance are also a key focus for three further projects. One farm in South Montgomeryshire will compare two vitamin B12 injections to combat cobalt deficiency in 600 lambs, monitoring daily live weight gain and body condition score to assess cost-effectiveness. Other red meat initiatives include; over-seeding using livestock (North Montgomeryshire); the use of seaweed bio stimulants to enhance sward quality (North Ceredigion); comparing lamb performance on herbal leys and willow supplementation (South Ceredigion) and trace element supplementation options in lambs (South Wales).
In South Wales, a project is evaluating field-scale sphagnum moss cultivation techniques, potentially opening up exciting new avenues for the horticulture sector.
