Farming & Countryside
Welsh farmers invited to share their experience of artificial intelligence and digital technologies with researchers in the net zero transition Farmers, land managers and industry stakeholders across Wales are invited to take part in new research exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies can support the transition to net zero agriculture. Led by Bangor […]
Welsh abattoirs will have fairer charges thanks to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, and supported by the NFU, who have won a High Court legal challenge against the Food Standards Agency in a battle over its charging rates. Welsh Conservative Shadow Farming Minister Andrew RT Davies has welcomed the judgement, handed down on 3rd […]
Castell Howell Foods has launched its ‘Growing Healthy Futures’ initiative, an umbrella scheme that brings together Welsh farmers and growers, classrooms, sporting academies and kitchens. Working with local authority and college caterers, Welsh Government, Food Sense Wales, Mentera, and Cardiff Metropolitan University, the company is restructuring its education sector supply chains to help deliver sustainable […]
Staff at a Welsh agricultural company have been trained to spot warning signs of suicide as part of a campaign to tackle the mental health crisis in farming. Drivers, office staff and senior managers at Platts Group, based in Llay, near Wrexham, have completed potentially life-saving training to help them recognise farmers in distress and […]
NORTH WALES is set to break new ground in boosting home-grown produce with the launch of a trailblazing ‘Machinery Ring’ for the agriculture sector. Menter Môn’s Machinery Ring scheme uses an innovative, collaborative approach, designed to encourage growers and farmers to grow more, allowing them to access and use the equipment needed while reducing the […]
Poultry and captive bird keepers in Wales must house their birds from Thursday 13 November as measures are introduced to combat the heightened risk of avian influenza. Wales is facing a significantly elevated threat due to a growing number of cases in both kept and wild birds across Great Britain. Avian influenza is of serious concern, not only for animal health and welfare, but also to the sustainability of food […]
Farmers have started work on three new plots near Newtown to test whether Powys land can be used to grow fruit and vegetables agroecologically on a commercial scale. Between them they are working 36 acres of Powys County Council-owned land in Sarn. It will be used to supply produce to local markets, schools in Wales […]
A new co-operative formed between West Wales pig farmers and a meat supplier is allowing pork from herds born and reared within the region to be transported for processing just a short distance in a low-throughput abattoir – reducing stress on the animals, providing low food miles meat for consumers and improving producer margins. The […]
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has expressed concern following the release of UK Trade figures which revealed a significant increase of sheep meat imported to the UK in 2024. Data released by the UK Government showed the UK imports of sheep meat surged by 40% on the year, reaching 67,880 tonnes, marking the highest […]
A Welsh farming family has made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of their dairy farm business, achieving an impressive carbon footprint of 1.06kg CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per kg of FPCM (fat and protein corrected milk). Roger and Catherine Howells of Blaengelli Farm, Whitland, credit the achievement to years of steady investment in infrastructure […]
It has been a remarkable trajectory for farmer Cheryl Reeves in the six years since she utilised Farming Connect’s Agrisgôp programme to first explore the seed of her farm business diversification idea. That business, the community interest company (CIC), Agri-cation, which she runs with her husband, Andrew, at their farm at Bangor on Dee, has […]
Members of the 2024 Farming Connect Agri Academy cohort have been praised for their technical expertise and vision with a set of ideas for real life business challenges and the winner was presented with an award at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair today (25 November). As the 2024 Agri Academy drew to a close, there […]