Wales Farmer 2 THISmonth NEWS February 2013


Apply now for next Agri-Academy term


News ...........3-7 Opinions ..........8 CAP latest .........9 RWAS news ......11 Soil feature .......17 Growing garden ...20 Markets .........22 Classified ........23 YFC .............24 Memory Lane .....25 Countryside ...26-27 Equestrian .......27


For Wales Farmer contact details see page 8.


Drop in on Glastir


ASERIES of Glastir drop-in surgeries will takeplace throughout Wales from February,providing one-to-one guidance and information about Glastir entry and the application process.The surgeries are open from 10am to 4pm, when all land managers considering joining the scheme can drop in. Please bring application


form and maps to the surgeries.Toreceive an individualised application pack, contact your local divisional office and allow28 days fordelivery. Forfurther information


contact Einir Haf Davies at Menter aBusnes on 01970 636297 or email: einir.davies @menterabusnes.co.uk.


February


19th: Neuadd Llanuwchllyn, Bala 21st: Aberaeron Rugby Club, North Road, Aberaeron 26th: Village Hall, Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llandrindod Wells


March


5th: Letterston Memorial Hall, Station Rd, Letterston 6th: Clwb Rygbi Dolgellau 12th: Llandovery Rugby club, Church Bank, Llandovery 12th: Huntsman Hotel, Shirenewton, Chepstow, Monmouthshire 14th: Neuadd Bentref Cynwyl Elfed, Caerfyrddin 19th: The Barley Mow, Graig Penllyn, Cowbridge 26th: Gwesty’r Bull, Bulkely Square, Llangefni


April


4th: Coleg Gelli Aur, Golden Grove, Llandeilo 4th: Bod Erw Hotel, Llanelwy 9th: Gwesty'r Porth Hotel, Llandysul, Ceredigion 11th: Haverfordwest Cricket Club, Dale Rd, Haverfordwest 16th: Neath Rugby Club, Neath, 23rd: Greyhound Inn, Old Walls, Llanrhydian, Swansea, Gower 25th: Clwb Rygbi Nant Conwy, Part Carw, Trefriw, Llanrwst


■ First year ‘surpassed all expectations’


THE doors of Wales’ Agri- Academy are open to new


students. The Farming Connect Agri-


Academy2013 waslaunched by the deputy minister foragricul- tureAlun Davies at an event at the SeneddtomarkFarmhouse Breakfast Week. Nowinits second year,the Agri-Academyprogramme aims to identify,mentor and inspire the next generation of rural lead- ers and entrepreneurs. “For me,leadership is keyto


the futureofagriculture,”said the deputy minister. “Understanding and leading


change will be acritical skill that will enableagriculturetosucceed in the future. Ihope and expect the agri-academytohelp us develop the leaders of the future.” The Agri-Academyhas two


distinct elements –the Business and Innovation Programme and the


RuralLeadership


Programme.Now drawing to the end of its first academic year,the academyhas surpassed all expec- tations. Mr Davies added: “It has


proved an enormouslysuccessful initiative,with manyofthe first intakeof28candidates already reporting on their plans forpro- gression, both as individuals and as business people,and Ilook forwardtohearing about their achievements in the years ahead. This is an enormouslystrong foundation on which to takethe Academyforwardin2013.” Next year’scandidates will


takepart in ademanding and stimulating programme of visits, workshops and presentations on topics such as dealing with change,high-levelnegotiations, forwardplanning, marketing,


MAKING ACONNECTION: Deputy minister for agriculture Alun Davies at the launch of the Farming Connect Agri- Academy 2013 with (left to right) Professor Wynne Jones, chairman Farming Connect strategic advisory board; John Davies, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society; Ben Underwood, director Wales CLA; Emyr Jones president FUW; Ed Bailey, president NFU Cymru; Iestyn Thomas, Wales YFC rural development officer.


communications,media training and supplychain strategies.Each group will travel overseas,either to the European Parliament in Brussels or another country recognised as having an inspira- tional approach to agricultural business and innovation. The windowfor applications


and nominations forthe academy is open until April 2nd. Applicants must live and work


in Wales and complywith the fol- lowing criteria: •Not in full time education •Demonstrategood knowl- edge of Welsh farming and


keyissues influencing the industry


•Registered with Farming Connect or working towards 550 hours


•Demonstrateenthusiasm and interest in developing a career within agriculture


•Provide one reference from within the agricultureindus- try (can include amember of the Farming Connect deliv- ery team).


Forfurther information and to


download an application form go to www.menterabusnes.co.uk/ farmingconnect.


The Agri-Academy Rural Leadership Programme will include:


September 13th-15th: Weekend course –Laying the foundations October 6th-9th: Study


tour –Broadening horizons (European Parliament, Brussels)


November 3rd-5th:


Summit event –How to make adifference December 2nd-3rd: Academy ceremony, Royal Welsh Winter Fair


The Agri-Academy Business and Innovation Programme will include: August 30th -September


1st: Getting to know my supply chain Studying business and innovation –overseas visit (Date and location to be confirmed) October 25th-27th:


Dealing with change and preparing for the future December 2nd-3rd: Academy ceremony, Royal Welsh Winter Fair


Creamery investmentwelcomed Knowwhat’s in the pit before buying in


ALEADING Welsh dairy co- operative has announced multi- million-pound plans to produce cheese and other dairy products. South Caernarfon Creameries


has secured a£50million contract with amajor cheese supplier. However,the development


means the co-operative is pulling out of the local liquid milk mar-


ket, adecision which has disap- pointed the Farmers’ Union of Wales. The union’s milk and dairy


produce committee chairman, Holywell farmer Dei Davies,wel- comed the creamery’smulti-mil- lion-pound plans to concentrate on producing cheese and other dairy products.


“It is ashame thatthey are


going out of the local liquid milk market, butitisheartening to learn thatthey have secured a£50 million contract with one of the biggest cheese suppliers of the UK retail and food service sec- tors.


“Wesincerelyhope thatthis development will provetobe


morebeneficial forthe long-term stability of the creamery,” said Mr Davies. “Weare also encouraged by


the announcement thatthey are planning to spend £10m on build- ing anew cheese-making facility on their existing site at Chwilog by 2016. “The co-operative saythey


FARMERS arebeing urged to carry out an accurateassessment of their forage stocks beforebuy- ing in extrafeed. DairyCo says farmers can save


money by onlybuying in what they reallyneed after calculating the amount of forage alreadyin store.


Extension officer Tom


Goatman said: “The first step is to calculate the availablestock in your clamped silage,once this is done the next step is to work out your herd’scurrent dailysilage


requirements.This calculation is the number of stock in each par- ticular group being fed silage, multiplied by the silage Dry Matter intakeofthis group in kg/head/day. “When youknowthereisa


need to buyextrafeed stocks makesurethatyou get the best value foryour money,looking not just at quantity butalso qual- ity.”


Farmers experiencing pressure


on their forage stocks can also check some of the following


areas: ·Minimise waste in the clamp


area by ensuring excellent clamp face management. ·Utilise moist feeds if available


and cost-effective as aforagesub- stitute (takespecialist advice to ensurethe ration is correctlybal- anced and contains adequate structural fibre). ·Test individual clamps as the


stock is being used up to know wherethe best quality silage is. The best quality silage can then be


targeted to freshly For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


calved/higher yielding cows and youngstock. ·Ensuremixed rations arepre-


pared as close to feed out time as possible –avoid preparing them the night/morning beforetohelp avoid heating, spoilage and rejec- tion.


·Consider reducing the silage component in the diet of late lac- tation and far offdry and young- stock and replacing it with straw if available(obtain specialist advice to ensureabalanced ration is maintained).


resources library


want to addvalue to their mem- bers’ milk and their recent actions areaimed at this objec- tive.Wehope very much that their plans willcometofruition in the nearfuture.” Established in 1938, South Caernarfon Creameries nowhas 125 farmer members,manufac- turing 6,500 tonnes of cheese.


·Reduce dailyforagerequire-


ments by culling problematic, poor performing animals. It is vital to makeaccuratecal-


culations in order to makesure anychanges to the feeding system arecost-effective. Further information, including


worksheets to calculate forage stocks,requirements and feed costs areavailablefromDairyCo Feeding+. To order acopy, visit the


www.dairyco.org.uk or call 024 7647 8702.


at


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