Cereals & Oilseeds Monitor Farm Network

The Monitor Farm Network is a group of levy-paying farms that work together with AHDB. These farms take part in different levels of activities and involvement to share ideas, improve farming practices and learn from each other.

The Monitor Farm Network is a collection of levy-paying farms, working collaboratively with AHDB, that fall within different types of participation and activity.

There are several options for joining the Monitor Farm Network. This helps farmers choose the level of involvement that suits their business, their available time and the topics they want to explore.

Flexibility is key for those looking at joining in regions or areas that (for one reason or another) may not be viable for a traditional Monitor Farm.

The networks continue to provide opportunities to build connections and reach more levy payers and stakeholders through events and engagement activities.

Farmers can join for just one season through to the traditional three-year programme. This opens the door for more farmers to get involved and share their knowledge/quest on a particular subject area.

Many farms in the network host events and demonstrations such as farm walks, where they share their current practices and updates on crop performance.

Farmers who want to explore data and investigate relevant topics for their farm can take part in on-farm trials.

These trials might focus on farming practices, research questions or business management. Topics or themes may come from farmers themselves, the AHDB letterbox or relevant AHDB research projects.

The aim is to investigate real challenges faced by levy payers and proactively explore the details to establish any new methods and practices to combat these scenarios and create solutions to be shared with other farmers in the region or further afield.

• Adding strength, stability and understanding to farming practices
• Learning and educating through problem solving and actionable insights
• Engaging with other levy payers in the region to encourage event attendance and knowledge sharing
• Opportunity for investment from AHDB to support in on-farm trials
• Analysis and reports will be developed by the farmer’s regional Knowledge Exchange Manager, including an introductory report and one annual report each year during participation

If you’re interested in joining the Monitor Farm Network, contact your regional Knowledge Exchange Manager for more information.

Recruitment is open to all levy payers in a bid to:

• Increase opportunities to engage with more levy payers across regions and build stakeholder engagement
• Provide a wider network of Monitor Farms across the country to demonstrate value of the levy
• Identify practical solutions that can be shared with other levy payers based on AHDB research projects or industry needs

A genuine passion to learn, share and support the industry will be key for a prospective monitor farmer.

During the recruitment process, critical objectives will be included in the questions, for example:

1. Do you want to help the industry?
2. Do any of the current topics (letterbox, industry feedback/requests, AHDB research topics) interest you?
3. Are you willing to make changes and share your journey?
4. Are you able to commit to at least one season (maximum three seasons)?

If you join, we can provide support from both on-the-ground and in-house AHDB experts.

You will also have access to products, tools and services to help you in your journey to improve your practices and develop a sustainable business.

In addition, we will support with funding the implementation of new farming practices to suit the need of the projects aligned with the strategy and funding model of AHDB.