Four grazing experts join the Welsh Pasture Project for 2021

Wales has a huge competitive advantage in its ability to reliably grow large amounts of high-quality grass. When managed correctly grazed grass provides high value feed for animals, reduces use of nitrogen fertiliser, can sequester carbon in the soil and is linked to consistent higher profits on farm.

The Welsh Pasture Project aims to provide information and management advice based on regional grass growth trends, which have been carefully recorded by the dedicated project farmers. If you are interested in improving your grazing management BUT not currently measuring grass, this project is for you!

The information will help you make timely on-farm grassland management decisions such as:

• Should I turn my livestock out?
• Should I close fields for silage?
• Should I add buffer feed?
• Should I spread fertiliser this week?
• Should I wean my lambs?

Research has shown farmers that manage grass well are more resilient to weather events and consistently more profitable.

More farms and more growth rates for 2021!

For 2021, we have increased the number of farms to 49. There is a range of systems, land types and experience levels of farms and farmers where all will measure their grass growth every 7-14 days from March to November.

This year we have:

• Number of beef and sheep farmers: 29
• Number of dairy farmers: 20

If you see a farm within the same region as you, monitor their grass growth, as it is likely a similar growth trend is happening on your farm! This will help support proactive management decisions on your own farm.

Expert grass based farmers

New for 2021, we have four grazing experts!

These four farmers have been chosen based on their excellent grassland management skills and knowledge to provide an insight into their system and timely decision-making information over the year.

• Ianto Pari – Beef and sheep farmer – Gwynedd
• Rhys Williams – Dairy farmer – Gwynedd
• Andrew Giles – Dairy farmer – Powys
• Bleddyn Davies – Sheep farmer – Ceredigion

Project launch: The first set of management notes will be published on 11 March.  Keep an eye out on Farming Connect’s social media and website to make sure you don’t miss them! Search online for #Welshpastureproject

Farming Connect, which is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra, has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.