One year on...Monitor Farms, Events and Group Work

IT has been a year since Myerscough College, Cumbria Farmer Network, Reaseheath College and EFFP held events in the region to launch the Monitor Farms, Demonstration Events and Farmer Groups project.

Funded through the RDPE Northwest Livestock Programme,  six monitor farms have been set up in the region and groups of farmers are now meeting to look at how the farms are performing and what improvements can be made.

These groups are working with the farmer and consultants to monitor the impact of improvements on the farm businesses over the next three years.

Each of the farms has had an animal health and welfare plan, nutrient management plan and resource audit carried out by SAC and Promar, who are supporting any follow-up action and monitored progress.

Malcolm and Judith Sanderson farm at Lower Highfield Farm at Halton, near Lancaster. They volunteered to be the programme’s beef and sheep monitor farm in Lancashire to share ideas with other farmers and gain access to knowledge that will help improve the farm.

Following the recommendations of an animal health plan and after attending an event on EID, they recently invested in an EID reader through the programme to help with performance recording on the farm.

“The monitor farm group is brilliant, their enthusiasm helps me to keep focussed on the improvements that I want to make and we are all learning from the experience." - Malcolm Sanderson

Malcolm said: “The monitor farm group is brilliant, their enthusiasm helps me to keep focussed on the improvements that I want to make and we are all learning from the experience. The monitor farm facilitator knows where to get extra specialist help from.

“To be a monitor farmer I think you have to be committed to it, be willing to make a go of it and see it through to the end.”

Demonstration Events

On-farm demonstration events have been held throughout the region with industry specialists informing farmers about the latest technologies and management practices. Events have been held to look at new alternative energy technologies, improving grassland, reducing mastitis, cattle handling systems and beef breeding.  All events have been well attended by farmers and some EID events held at auctions have had over 150 farmers in attendance.

“It’s important that we do keep up-to-date. You never stop learning.” - Emma Armstrong.

Emma Armstrong farms a mixed herd of pedigree and commercial beef cattle at Highfield Farm near Chorley in Lancashire. She has been to a variety of events held across the region relevant to her farming practice and, as a result, agreed to host an event on beef breeding on her own farm.

She said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every event my husband Robert, myself and my daughter have been to. We’ve learned a lot from it and that was the real reason why we agreed to invite people to an event at our own farm to give others around us the same opportunity.

“You can’t always get to the likes of Lamma and events held at Stoneleigh so it’s good to have events closer to home. It’s important that we do keep up-to-date. You never stop learning.”    

Information about the monitor farms and all reports from the Demonstration Events can be found on this website www.livestocknw.co.uk

Farmer Groups

Cumbria Famer Network has been working with farmer groups across the county in Broughton, Croglin, Ravenstonedale, Langdale and Seathwaite .

And Myerscough College and Reaseheath College are developing their work with farmer groups in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

If you would like support for your group or are interested in joining farmer groups, be it dairy, beef, sheep, pigs or poultry that you farm, please contact:

Lancashire and Gt Manchester

The Rural Team at Myerscough College, Robert Burrow or Michelle Lund

Tel: 01995 642 206

Email: livestocknw@myerscough.ac.uk

Cheshire and Merseyside

The Enterprise Delivery Hub at Reaseheath College, Lesley Innes

Tel: 01270 625 131 ex 308

Email: livestocknw@reaseheath.ac.uk

Cumbria

Cumbria Farmer Network , Ruth Walters 

Tel: 01768 868 615

Email: info@cumbriafarmernetwork.co.uk

Add a Comment

If you would like to leave a comment, please login or register for an account.