Farming Connect provided services to help farmers in Wales run their businesses more efficiently and protect the environment from 2011-2013. Their activities included knowledge transfer through clinics, demonstrations, discussions and events on topics like renewable energy and soil management. They also offered subsidized whole farm planning and advisory services to help farmers address issues like clean water separation and develop nutrient management plans. Skills training courses further helped farmers address environmental issues.

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FARMING CONNECT
REPORT OF ACTIVITY:
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
DURING THE PERIOD 1 SEPTEMBER 2011 - 31 August 2013

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1. Farming Connect - Background
Farming Connect is an integrated, high profile, Wales-wide service for farming families and
forestry businesses. It is funded through the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which is
financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Its main purpose is to help farmers, foresters and their families to run their business more
efficiently and to safeguard the future of their farm. It is an integrated programme for all sectors
including Red Meat, Dairy, Land-use and Organic and delivers support to the industry on the
cross-cutting themes of environment and climate change, animal health and welfare, health and
safety, biosecurity, effective use of ICT, women and young entrants. The main elements of the
programme can be summarised as follows:
Knowledge Transfer Programme. The aim of this programme is to ensure that information
is available to help producers adopt new practices, benchmark performance, share ideas,
address market needs and encourage innovation
Subsidised Services. The Whole Farm Plan provides one-to-one mentoring on a range of
options designed to support agricultural and forestry businesses grow and develop
including Animal Health Planning; and the Farm Advisory Service offers one-to-one,
confidential on-farm advice aimed at supporting farm and forestry holders to improve the
sustainable management of their holdings in relation to SMRs, GAECs and standards
relating to occupational health and safety.
The Skills Development Programme aims to up-skill individuals who work in the farming
and forestry sectors in Wales to improve working practices, comply with legislation and to
encourage diversification.
Farming Connect Industry Development (Event Management) disseminates strategic
messages and key topical issues via a range of mechanisms including seminars and
surgeries. The contract allows the Welsh Government the flexibility to disseminate strategic
messages in whatever format, frequency and location that is required to achieve maximum
impact and uptake.
Agrisgôp is a Management Development Programme which works with groups of
approximately eight farmers. It is based on the concept of Action Learning and aims to
stimulate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
2. Environment and Climate Change Activity (up to 31 August 2013)
2.1 Knowledge Transfer Programme
The Cross Cutting theme paper on the environment identifies that the environment is our key
asset. It recognises the valuable role that the industry has in the future management of the
environment and sustainable use of resources and also that sound environmental management is
borne out of good business management. Environmental messages should be integrated into
every element of the Farming Connect programme with an emphasis on wise use of natural
resources as an essential and integral part of good business management.
The Climate Change Cross Cutting theme paper identifies that the Farming Connect Programme
should aim to encourage farmers to adopt practices that will lead to reduced GHG emissions and,
in the medium to longer term, raise awareness of the opportunities and risks posed by a changing
climate. Many practices, it is identified, can also enhance the profitability of the business, for
example, efficiencies in farming production through more efficient livestock husbandry will achieve
reduced levels of GHG (mainly CH4) per unit product (e.g. litre of milk or kg of beef / lamb) and
managing the use of nitrogen fertiliser and slurry/manure will also reduce the levels of GHG
emissions.

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Climate change is an overarching theme for the Knowledge Transfer Programme and the
programme is appraised at the development stage to ensure that appropriate opportunities for
action on climate change are highlighted at all Farming Connect events.
Table 1 below summarises the knowledge transfer programme activity on Environmental and
Climate Change cross cutting themes during the period 1st
September 2011-31st
August 2013.
Activity Type Count of
activity
Examples of activity
Clinics 44 Renewable energy clinics – An opportunity to
assess the suitability and feasibility of renewable
energy generation schemes
Visual Soil Assessment clinics – Enabling farmers to
gauge the quality of their soils and advice on how to
improve soil quality.
Grazing and Grassland Clinic – offering individual
farmers an hour‟s practical on-farm advice on soil
and grassland issues
Home grown feeds clinic – Advice and information
on home grown cereals and feeds
Foot trimming clinics and practical lameness clinics
Demonstration
Farm
Trial/Project
Current Demonstration Farm projects aim to address
environment and climate change issues and to
demonstrate best practice:
These projects include:
Efficient grassland management and utilisation to
improve profitability and increase sustainability
(Projects developed in conjunction with IBERS
„Grazing 4 Profit‟, which provides monthly bulletins
for our website
Developing and demonstrating a series of cropping
options for out wintering cattle
Improving pasture use through rotationally grazing
sheep and cattle including a review of the
environmental impact
No Till to establish spring barley compared to
conventional establishment
Sward improvement without ploughing
Addressing soil compaction
Orchard management
Woodland Management
Water resource management
Soil compaction and grassland improvement
Results and lessons learned were disseminated to wider
audiences via discussion group meetings, podcasts and
technical articles.
Our Network of 28 Demonstration farms have undertaken

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or are in the process of undertaking the following baseline
studies:
Nutrient Management Plans – aiming to highlight the
economic and environmental benefits of adopting a
targeted approach to fertiliser use.
Energy and resource audits – enabling farmers to
better understand their energy and water demands
and also work to identify measures that they can put
in place to reduce their footprint at farm level.
Environmental Reviews – providing confidential, one
to one advice and guidance to Farming Connect
Demonstration Farmers on environmental
management in line with regulatory cross
compliance. The reviews also provide the
opportunity for the identification of projects that
promote best practice and that emphasise to
farmers the business benefits of good regulatory
compliance.
Discussion
Group
543 Farming Connect facilitators have addressed the
environment and climate change at discussion group
meetings on a range of topics including:
Efficient grassland management and utilization
which has been a popular topic for many discussion
group meetings
There have also been a number of discussion
groups for horticulturists and growers.
On farm solar PV
Small Scale hydro projects
„Making money from heat‟ – the Renewable Heat
Incentive
General overview and focus on renewable energy
Establishing cereals for home grown feeds
The environmental impacts and benefits of any changes to
production have been highlighted at all discussion group
meetings as have the opportunities to reduce emissions
through efficient production.
Farm Event 54 Farm events are an effective way of interacting with
farmers, and topics covered during the year have included:
Eye on the future: New forage varieties
Soil, Muck and Money - highlighting the benefits of
good soil management and nutrient management
planning
No Till Event

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Farm woodland management
Grassland Improvement - Improving grass yield
Soft fruit production
Anaerobic digestion
Benefits of digestates (event run in conjunction with
WRAP Cymru)
Fact Sheet 68 Examples of Factsheets produced and published during the
contract have included:
Clean/dirty water separation
Organic forage production
Soil structure
Land drainage
Field scale vegetable production
Planning production to supply a vegetable box
scheme and other direct marketing outlets
Grazing Systems
Weed control in grass and forage crops
Grassland species
Small scale wind power
Small scale hydro power
Orchard Management
Protected Cropping
Practical IPM
Improving Grazing Management: Measure to
Manage
Farm Walk 34 Farm Walks are an interactive way of getting key
messages on priority sectors across to farmers
Effective grassland management was a key topic for many
farm walks held during the summer of 2012. Environmental
and climate change topics have been addressed at the
following Farm Walks:
Rotational Grazing
Optimising grass production and pasture
management
Wholecrop focus and grazing management in dairy
production
Anaerobic Digestion
Breeding suckler cow replacements and wind
turbine installation
Visit to Hydroelectricity & biomass boiler
An insight into a farm Hydro system
Grassland Improvements and woodland grants
Merched y
Maes
29 Merched y Maes, women only groups, have been formed,
and the following meetings addressed environment and
climate change:
Identification of grass species and signs of healthy
soil structure

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Dealing with farm paperwork and understanding
cross compliance
Soils and grassland management
Renewable Energy Options
Demonstration
Farm open
day
90 In addition to demo farm events related to project work on-
going on the farm, the following events were held on
demonstration farms:
Reseeding options and weed control
Optimising grass production and Nutrient
Management planning
Soil, Muck and Money and the benefits of farm
woodland
Nutrient management and soil compaction issues
Dry Cow Nutrition and solar panels
Grassland management and forestry event
Recovering from 2012 – Land drainage and re-
seeding options
Practical orchard management
Options for harvesting cereals
Drainage issues
Shows and
exhibitions
37 The environment and climate change were key topics at all
events and exhibitions attended during the year.
Representatives from Natural Resources Wales have been
present on Farming Connect Stand during summer shows
to promote the fact that farmers must renew their Waste
exemption certificates
At the Royal Welsh Show in 2013, Farming Connect
worked in conjunction with the Royal Welsh Agricultural
Society to hold the „Tomorrow, today‟ exhibition,
showcasing the latest innovation in agriculture.
The focus of the Farming Connect stand at the Lantra
building was on making efficient use of brassica crops.
Demonstration Farm projects were also highlighted,
including the importance of Dung Beetles in the breakdown
of manure for improved soil aeration, leading to a reduction
in the use of chemical fertilizers.
Study Tours 16 Study tour participants are encouraged to investigate
environmental and climate change issues and learn from
others on the best ways to protect and enhance the
environment. Visits included:
Low Water Input Systems in Morocco
Dairy Study tour to Ireland
Study tour to Aberdeenshire which considered
renewable energy options
Technical 135 The following technical articles have been aimed at

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Article improving farm efficiencies and highlight environmental
benefits:
Grazing for Profit bulletins
Mileage in Silage bulletins
Know your flock bulletins
Sustainable water management
Why soil sample?
Tractor Fuel Efficiency
Helpful hints on slurry and dirty water
Why soil sample?
Spreading poultry manure
Land drainage
Soil temperature map narrative
Livestock management and conservation grazing
Managing soils to optimise production on a dairy
farm
Good slurry storage can save money
Workshop 61 Workshops have included:
Soil analysis workshops
Silage analysis workshops
Ectoparasites workshops
Workshops are targeted at new farmers to Farming
Connect, and offer a limited number of free samples and
follow up consultation with the aim of developing
knowledge on the environmental and economic benefits of
sampling.
The Farming Connect website is a resource for technical reports on activities, podcasts, factsheets
and case studies. In January 2013, Farming Connect launched a new on-line Soil Temperature
map, in conjunction with the Environment Agency (now NRW), in order to aid farmers with the
timely application of fertilizer. The interactive map reported temperatures from 9 sites from across
Wales each morning.
2.2 Whole Farm Plan & Farm Advisory Service
The regional co-ordinators have consistently seen a demand for advice and mentoring on topics
relating to the Environment and Climate Change. The team have been promoting and raising
awareness of the importance of climate change and protecting the environment to farming
businesses. Co-ordinators have been advising farmers to take up subsidised services to address
issues and to investigate potential benefits any investments could have on their businesses and
the environment.
Under the Whole Farm Plan 89 advisors are able to deliver for the Alternative Energy mentoring,
taking into account some mentors have also been delivering under the Diversification topic. An
additional 88mentors are able to provide advice to farmers under the Environment category.
Mentors are split between 6 companies giving farmers and foresters a good choice of mentors to
select from.

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Farmers are encouraged to undertake energy efficiency reports to see how they could cut down
any costs – this is a proven and effective exercise which many dairy farmers have undertaken.
Farmers have also been accessing 80% funding through the Whole Farm plan towards feasibility
studies into the possibility of investing in wind, hydro and solar schemes. The majority of these
applications have been claimed under the Alternative Energy and Diversification category.
There are many issues relating to the environment that arise on farms, and through Farming
Connect services farmers are able to access funding to address specific problems. A common on-
farm issue is clean and dirty water separation and manure and slurry storage. Farmers have been
also receiving mentoring and advice on Glastir. Farmers receive funding for a mentor or advisor to
assess the suitability of the scheme for the farm. Funding will allow a mentor to walk the farm and
decide which options would be best suited for particular systems and habitats and generate the
scorecard for the farmer to make the final decision on whether to apply for the scheme. Glastir has
been a major driver for the uptake of mentoring under the Environment topic during the past 18
months. Co-ordinators have also been attending Glastir Surgeries and on-farm events, arranged
by the Industry Development programme, to promote the subsidised services further.
The Farm Advisory Service allows farmers to access 80% funding towards advice to conform with
cross compliance regulations, including Land Management. Farmers have been receiving funding
for soil sampling and Nutrient Management Plans. Via the Farm Advisory Service, farmers are
also able to access further funding towards advice on environmental issues, many farmers have
used the service to receive slurry/manure and water efficiency reports for the Glastir Efficiency
Scheme. There are 104 mentors are available to deliver on behalf of the service.
Table 2 below shows the Whole Farm Plan applications made between 1st
September 2011 and
31st
August 2013:
Table 3 below shows the number of Farm Advisory Service applications made between 1st
of
September 2011 and 31st
August 2013 for the Land Management, Environmental Protection and
Environmental Management categories:
Total Number of Approvals for Land Management FAS1
863
Percentage of FAS approvals that were for Land Management 79%
Total Number of Environmental Protection applications for FAS 89
Percentage of FAS applications that were for Environmental Protection 8%
Total Number of Environmental Management applications for FAS 128
Percentage of FAS applications that were for Environmental
Management
12%
2.3 Skills Development Programme
1
Nutrient Management plans are approved under the Land Management category of the Farm Advisory Service.
Total number of application forms approved for WFP 2383
Total number of days approved for WFP 5962.5
Number of application forms approved for Alternative Energy 439
Percentage of WFP applications that were for Alternative
Energy
18%
Number of application forms approved for Environment 783
Percentage of WFP applications that were for Environment
application approved
32%

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The Skills Development Programme provides 80% funding to farmers towards short accredited
courses, a number of these courses address environmental and climate change topics and issues,
and these include:
Pesticide / crop spraying
FACTS/ BASIS
Mole and Pest Control
Dry – stone walling
Fencing
Hedge-laying
Coppicing
Woodland management
Regional co-ordinators have been actively promoting these courses and the funding available at
every given opportunity.
2.4 Industry Development Programme.
Activities under the Industry Development programme addressing the environment and climate
change have included the following:
3 Diversification Seminars with a focus on Renewable Energy systems have been held
since September 2011. At these meetings, farmers were given the opportunity to talk to
Renewable Energy consultants and were able to consider whether installing a Renewable
Energy system would be viable for their own farms. Some of the diversification seminars
were held on farms where existing renewable energy systems were located. These events
included a farm walk to see a working hydro scheme. As well as having the opportunity to
discuss the developments with the farmer who had installed the Renewable Energy
systems, Renewable Energy consultants were present to share information on various
options to those present.
Planning Surgeries - a vast number of queries dealt with by the Planning Consultant at
Planning Surgeries involve renewable energy projects and the planning regulations which
affect them.
6 “Focus on Business” events held in December 2012 and January 2013 included a
presentation from a renewable energy consultant who provided an update on the latest in
terms of investing in wind, hydro, solar or heat source systems.
12 drop in sessions were held during spring 2012, whereby farmers had the opportunity to
assess the suitability of the Glastir scheme for their farm. One to one sessions were offered
with Welsh Government officials at these events.
Between February and July 2013, 53 events were held on the agri-environment scheme,
Glastir. 36 of these were drop-in surgeries, where one-to-one guidance was provided for
farmers considering applying for Glastir Entry. The remaining 17 events were farm open
days which included a farm walk and demonstrated practical ways of undertaking the
various sustainable land management options.
The importance of maintaining good agricultural and environmental conditions on farm is
highlighted and promoted at all Industry Development events.
2.5 Agrisgôp
The Agrisgôp programme has addressed topics relating to the Environment and Climate Change.

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Many Agrisgôp Leaders are facilitating groups considering renewable energy options including
wind, solar and anaerobic digestors as means of carbon footprint reduction and increasing
incomes. A group in mid Wales are specifically considering the reduction of the greenhouse effect
through evaluating their business‟s carbon footprint.
One pan Wales Agrisgôp group with strong ties to the Wildlife Trust organisation are exploring
marketing opportunities linked to sustainable farming systems.
3. Environmental and Climate Change – future activity
Table 3 below illustrates the planned activity on the Environment and Climate Change during the
period 1st
September 2013 onwards
Environment and Climate
Change topic
Delivery Mechanism Action/Aim
Renewable energy
feasibility
Renewable energy feasibility studies will be
provided and promoted via the Whole Farm Plan.
It is anticipated that the Energy/Water Audits
undertaken on the demonstration farm network
will identify opportunities for energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies
A farm scale wind turbine feasibility study is
scheduled to take place on one demonstration
farm in conjunction with CAT
Farming Connect trailer will visit livestock markets
across Wales and will promote the availability of
funding. Farm renewable energy options, and the
availability of funding toward feasibility studies will
be promoted at Shows and events Farming
Connect attend during the remainder of the
contract.
Nutrient Management
planning
NMP will be promoted via the Farm Advisory
Service and again in Gwlad where the benefits
have been promoted previously
Nutrient management planning undertaken on
network of demonstration farms with subsequent
events to promote business and environmental
benefits of NMPs. This will continue on newly
recruited Demonstration Farms
Improving environmental
compliance
Demonstration Farm
Network
Open Days
Workshops
Thorough Environmental Reviews are currently being
undertaken on all Demonstration Farms, the aim of the
reviews is to provide confidential, one to one advice
and guidance to Farming Connect Demonstration
Farmers on environmental management in line with
regulatory cross compliance – this includes FYM/Slurry
storage, silage, clean-dirty water, fuel oil etc. The
reviews also provide the opportunity for the
identification of projects that promote best practice and

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that emphasise to farmers the business benefits of
good regulatory compliance which will be featured at
future events
In 2013 there will also be events providing practical
information to farmers on the business benefits of
good regulatory compliance. The aim is to provide
practical information to farmers on an aspect of
environmental management, for example, the
construction and compliance of slurry and silage
storage systems, clean/dirty water separation etc
Renewable energy
events
Discussion Group
Meetings
Demonstration Farm
Project
Farm events
Merched y Maes
A number of activities, including discussion
groups and on farm events will address climate
change and discuss the suitability and feasibility
of renewable energy.
These events will provide information and develop
knowledge on renewable energy technology.
A renewable energy demonstration farm project
looking at wind production is planned.
Renewable energy clinics These clinics will provide one-to-one farm specific
independent information on renewable energy
technology.
Resource efficiency –
water and energy
Audits are underway on the network of
demonstration farms
In 2014, events will be arranged with the aim of
raising awareness and providing information of
opportunities to reduce energy/water use and
increase energy/water efficiency.
Soil management Workshops which aim to raise awareness and
develop knowledge of the economic benefits of
adopting a targeted approach to fertilizer use and
managing the use of nitrogen fertilizer and
slurry/manure to reduce levels of GHG emissions
and have taken place across Wales in early 2013
and will be repeated with new farmer groups in
winter 2013
Good soil management which is key to profiting
from fertilisers, manures and new leys will also be
included in event planning in 2014
Grassland management
and utilisation
Demonstration Farm Open
day
One off farm events
Events promoting the benefits of grassland based
farming systems through reseeding and sward
renovation, the utilisation of new varieties, control

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Discussion group
meetings
of weeds and use of clovers for more efficient
livestock production and effective nutrient
management will be included in the programme
for 2014.
The optimum utilisation of grassland has never
been more important with the cost of purchased
feed and fertiliser higher than ever. The aim is to
promote the benefits of grassland based farming
systems and efficient use of grass to improve
profitability and increase sustainability.
In addition events and activities to enable farmers
to reduce their reliance on brought in feeds and to
provide information and develop knowledge on:
silage management to reduce dry matter
losses/improving silage yield and making the
silage nutritive value for the stock fedto increase
profit and improve efficiency.
growing and feeding homegrown crops including
establishing and utilising forage crops, cropping to
reduce winter feed costs and highlighting the
benefits which include extending feeding supplies,
reducing overall feeding costs and meeting
environmental targets
Farm woodland Technical Articles The importance of farm woodland to the
environment.
Technical Articleswill include:
The importance of streamside corridors.
Fact Sheets A range of fact sheets will consider environment
and climate change issues including:
Identification of pestsin grassland and
forage crops
Good welfare of outwintered cattle
FITS and farming – a selection of case
studies
Bumble bees and pollinating insects - why
are they important?
Biomass heating systems
Biodiversity and animal health
Buildings and yards - guidance on SAFFO
and building and yard design to optimise
performance
Impact of climate change in Wales on crop
pest, weeds and disease
Growing maize under plastic – report of
Guddr Demo Farm Project
Impact of climate change in Wales on
disease and animal health