Technology Transfer to Welsh Grassland Societies

The Grassland Development Centre at IBERS provides technology transfer to farmers in Wales under Farming Connect services. We have been able to secure some of that resource to be directed to Grassland Societies programmes. These need to be new and additional activities for the Societies which should widen the range of member benefits by:

Providing demonstration/discussion/ training in specialist farming topics or systems which are relevant to sub-groups within a Society

Extending inter-Society visits through joint visits to IBERS research farms

Promoting participation of new and younger members

To meet these objectives the GDC is offering participation in the following programmes. Individual Societies may choose to make these available to member's family and employees and to 'prospective' members as well as to existing membership.

1. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

For groups of 6-12 with a common special interest ; events normally at one members farm (but some topics may be at indoor venue) ; 2-3 hours day or evening
Select from suggested topics or nominate a topic of your choice

Special interest topic ( examples)	Beef and Sheep*	Dairy *	When : month; day;time
1.Grass identity, sward assessment
2. Soil management for grassland
3 Sward renovation/ reseeding
4 Grazing management
5. Grass for silage
6. Habitat grassland
7.Manures and slurry use
8.White clover management
9 Red Clover Management
10. Seed mixture selection
11. Nominate topic of own Choice:

* please indicate which option is required and let us know if it is for Organic producers. Some topics may be suitable to be shared between Beef/Sheep and Dairy producers

2. IBERS VISIT

For groups of 20 -40 people from one or more Society; subject area by agreement. Please contact for further information.

For further information and to book Special Interest events

please contact: Dan Downes, GDC, IBERS. 07791 702 791

e-mail dad14@aber.ac.uk

The Grassland Development Centre, based in IGER is managed by the Welsh Development Agency on behalf of the Welsh Asssembly Government as part of Farming Connect.