Farming Connect restarts its on-site events programme

Farming Connect live events have resumed with the first of these held at a market garden in Cardigan in July.

It has been nearly 18 months since the pandemic forced Farming Connect to take its knowledge transfer events online.

But, with Welsh Government Covid-19 guidelines now permitting socially distanced outdoor events, Farming Connect is getting its on-site events up and running once more.

These kicked off with an open on-site event at Glebelands Market Garden, Cardigan, where weed control methods were evaluated.

There are several events already scheduled across Wales for the coming weeks and the events calendar is being frequently updated as more are added.

Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which delivers the Farming Connect programme, encouraged farmers and growers to visit the Farming Connect website to check out what events are coming up at gov.wales/farmingconnectevents.

The webinar format and the Demo Farm Live events had been extremely popular during the Covid-19 lockdowns and while restrictions on social contact have been in place, she said.

The programme going forward will therefore include a mix of on-site and online events.

“We know that people have missed our on-site events and the opportunity to learn from our projects and trial work in a live setting, therefore we are delighted that we are now in a position to offer them that opportunity again,” said Mrs Williams.

All on-site events are held according to current Covid-19 guidelines, and booking is mandatory, she added.

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.