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PembrokeshireFarmer


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News December 2013 3


Protected status for Pembrokeshire earlies


Puffin’s managing director Huw Thomas described the Pembrokeshire Early Potato as “one of the best products inWales”. “This is tremendous news forWales,


Pembrokeshire and our growers who put their heart and soul into producing the best potatoes and vegetables you’ll find anywhere in the world.” Pembrokeshire Earlies grower Walter


Simon, of West Orielton Farm, Hundle- ton, said the designation recognised the quality of the product and the hardwork and dedication of growers in Pem- brokeshire. “The discerning public will recognise


the PGI logo from other greatproducts aroundEurope whichhaveaspecial con- nection to their locality –suchasWelsh


MODERN APPROACH: Pembrokeshire-basedThomas Allison (left) says technology is the key to farm efficiency.


PICTURE: Debbie James.


Technology to drivefarming in thefuture


thatwill drive the growth and productivity


A of technology


brokeshire’s farming sector. Pembrokeshire-based


Pem- farm


entrepreneur


Thomas Allison says farmers who improvetheir on-farm sys- tems will maximise the efficien- cy of their businesses. Thomas,who runs athriving


business developing, installing and maintaining computerised dairying systems at his family home at Sychpant Farm, Rhoshill, believes integrated computerised systems can help farms achieve this. “Through newtechnology,


suchasherd management soft- ware,farmers can save alot of time and generate


better


GRI-TECHNOLOGY development has been named as akey factor


By Debbie James


returns,” he told farmers at the recent Farmers’ Union of Wales conference in Aberystwyth. One of Thomas’ developments


is asystem to record acow’s tem- perature during milking, create areport at the end of the milking session, pinpoint anythatare running at ahigher level than normal –and informs the par- lour operative. This data can then be used to


alert the farm’s vet to cows that could be suffering from mastitis or other production-affecting problems,allowing treatment often before anyserious signs become visible. Technology and research was


the conference theme and there were speakers on arange of top-


ics including performance


recording, renewableenergy and advances in meatgrading. FUW president Emyr Jones


said technological advances in agriculture were not the result of adopting a‘one-tool’ technique, butapackage of technologies to suit different farmtypes and sys- tems. He believed thatimproving


agricultural productivity wasa challenge because of rising glob- al demand forfood. “Whilst adverse weather con-


ditions and other factors,suchas disease outbreaks,will have a short-term impact on productivi- ty,itwill be the longer-term advances and developments in agri-technologies thatwill have an impact on the growth, produc- tivity and success of the sector as awhole,” he said.


Continued from page 1


lamb whichhas areputation world- wide,” he said. Varieties suchasMaris Peer and Lady


Christl varieties are ideal forthe Pem- brokeshire soil, climate and production methods.The result is atinypotato, creamyintexture and so fine-skinned thatthe first crop is harvested in Mayto keepits delicate skin intact. Preparing the seed and soil before planting,nurturing and harvesting Pem- brokeshire earlies is both ascience and an art according to Puffin’s field manag- er,Stephen Mathias.Manyofthe skills are passed downthe generations and the potatoes are often handpicked, especial- ly earlier in the harvest season.


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