The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is seeking Welsh dairy farms to join its Strategic Dairy Farm programme.
Successful applicants will be appointed for three years and will have the opportunity to collaborate with a team of experts to drive “positive change” on their farm.
A group comprising AHDB representatives and industry experts will offer a network of support, and assist in identifying goals and developing a plan for each farm.
The experiences of participating farms will be shared with other farmers, enabling them to learn from different insights.
The AHDB stated that farmers who are interested in “driving innovation, sharing best practices, and are confident” in hosting on-farm and virtual events are encouraged to get in touch.
AHDB’s senior knowledge exchange manager dairy, Doreen Anderson said:
“Our objective is to empower farmers to explore new ideas and embrace change within their businesses. This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with local farmers to effect positive changes on your farm.”
AHDB added that its Strategic Dairy Farm programme aims to enhance business resilience and performance across the dairy industry.
It is farmers showcasing their best practices and practical demonstrations to provide other farmers with ideas for enhancing their own farms.
The existing farms in the programme include those with year-round and block calving systems, as well as fully housed and extensively grazed operations, according to the AHDB.
A former strategic dairy farmer of Chance Hall Farms, Karen Holton said that being a Strategic Dairy Farm “opened doors to industry specialists” and there is a lot to learn from the Farm Walks.
She said that it has positively impacted change and development within the business and has helped her make more “data led” decisions.
Holton added: “Personally, if by showcasing and sharing our knowledge has influenced other farmers to make positive changes in the lives of their cows, then that is an amazing feeling.
AHDB stated that if you have interest in becoming the companies next Strategic Dairy Farm, to contact Jamie McCoy or James Hague before Sunday, June 30. Their emails can be accessed via the AHDB website.
