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Dairy farmers wanted for cubicle shed research

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:02:55 GMT

Dairy farmers wanted for cubicle shed research

Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:49:00 GMT

Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Cumbria: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:18:15 GMT

Join us for a collaboration with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Cost Effective Slurry Management and Nutrient Management Planning with guest James Bretherton, David Ball from AHDB and CSF advisor Jonathan Skidmore.

What to expect at the meeting

This meeting will show you how to turn slurry from a storage challenge into a business asset, helping you cut costs, improve productivity, and protect the environment. This workshop will explore how effective slurry management, which includes nutrient planning, can deliver measurable benefits to your bottom line while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements.

This event will cover

The nutrient and economic value of slurry and organic manures – and how to maximise it
Four key areas of cost effective slurry storage and utlisation: feeding strategy, yard/housing management, storage/treatment, and application
How to reduce ammonia emissions and nutrient losses
How a local farming business is making the most of their slurry
How to create and update an effective nutrient management plan, including N & P balancing
The latest tools and resources, including AHDB’s Slurry Wizard and Organic Materials Value Calculator MANNER-NPK, and Defra’s new web-based planning tool

Whether you’re looking to reduce fertiliser costs, make better use of your storage, or get more from your nutrient management plan, this practical session will provide the tools, knowledge, and next steps to take action on farm.

Somerset: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:46:55 GMT

Join us for a collaboration with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management incorporating cost-effective Nutrient Management Planning with guest John Morgan, David Ball from AHDB and CSF advisor Jonathan Skidmore.

What to expect at the meeting

This event will cover

The nutrient and economic value of slurry and organic manures – and how to maximise it
Four key areas of cost effective slurry storage and utlisation: feeding strategy, yard/housing management, storage/treatment, and application
How to reduce ammonia emissions and nutrient losses
How a local farming business is making the most of their slurry
How to create and update an effective nutrient management plan, including N & P balancing
The latest tools and resources, including AHDB’s Slurry Wizard and Organic Materials Value Calculator MANNER-NPK, and Defra’s new web-based planning tool

Devon: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 17:19:51 GMT

Join us for a collaboration with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management incorporating cost-effective Nutrient Management Planning with guest John Morgan, David Ball from AHDB and CSF advisor Jonathan Skidmore.

What to expect at the meeting

This event will cover

The nutrient and economic value of slurry and organic manures – and how to maximise it
Four key areas of cost effective slurry storage and utlisation: feeding strategy, yard/housing management, storage/treatment, and application
How to reduce ammonia emissions and nutrient losses
How a local farming business is making the most of their slurry
How to create and update an effective nutrient management plan, including N & P balancing
The latest tools and resources, including AHDB’s Slurry Wizard and Organic Materials Value Calculator MANNER-NPK, and Defra’s new web-based planning tool

Shropshire: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 17:11:06 GMT

Join us for a collaboration with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management incorporating cost-effective Nutrient Management Planning with guest Chris Duller, David Ball from AHDB and CSF advisor Jonathan Skidmore.

What to expect at the meeting

This meeting will show you how to turn slurry from a storage challenge into a business asset, helping you cut costs, improve productivity, and protect the environment. This workshop will explore how integrated slurry management and nutrient planning can deliver measurable benefits to your bottom line while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements.

This event will cover

The nutrient and economic value of slurry and organic manures – and how to maximise it
Four key areas of integrated slurry management: feeding strategy, yard/housing management, storage/treatment, and application
How to reduce ammonia emissions and nutrient losses
How a local farming business is making the most of their slurry
How to create and update an effective nutrient management plan, including N & P balancing
The latest tools and resources, including AHDB’s Slurry Wizard and Organic Materials Value Calculator MANNER-NPK, and Defra’s new web-based planning too

Derbyshire: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:44:18 GMT

Join us for a collaboration with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management incorporating cost-effective Nutrient Management Planning with guest Chris Duller, David Ball from AHDB and CSF advisor Jonathan Skidmore.

What to expect at the meeting

This meeting will show you how to turn slurry from a storage challenge into a business asset, helping you cut costs, improve productivity, and protect the environment. This workshop will explore how integrated slurry management and nutrient planning can deliver measurable benefits to your bottom line while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements.

This event will cover

The nutrient and economic value of slurry and organic manures – and how to maximise it
Four key areas of integrated slurry management: feeding strategy, yard/housing management, storage/treatment, and application
How to reduce ammonia emissions and nutrient losses
How a local farming business is making the most of their slurry
How to create and update an effective nutrient management plan, including N & P balancing
The latest tools and resources, including AHDB’s Slurry Wizard and Organic Materials Value Calculator MANNER-NPK, and Defra’s new web-based planning too

Hampshire: Lean on the land - applying learnings from Japan

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:26:19 GMT

Join us at Whitewool Farm for a practical workshop to demonstrate how a Japanese automotive technique can be used to improve business profits with Jamie and Will Butler, and Neil Fedden, Managing Director of Fedden USP.

Neil works with businesses to help create time, that’s then up to the operator to use appropriately. Time to be used to focus on the business and increase profits or more time off farm to spend with family or other pursuits. The workshop will help you get more engagement from staff and show you how to get ‘action plans’ done.

Jamie and his brother Will operate a diversified farming business, with glamping sites, fly fishing, corporate days, clay shooting and self-storage running alongside their 445 ha dairy and arable farm. They use lean management to help identify areas of efficiency and areas for opportunity to lean into their land.

You will hear Jamie's progress since the last KPI meeting at Whitewool and how that links into how he already uses lean principles to manage a successful business. Applying the principles of lean management, Neil will discuss case studies of applications from the farming sector, including from dairy to practically highlight how to apply these to your farm.

10 years ago Neil supported Jamie and the team at Meon Springs to improve the day-to-day routine of milking, scraping and feeding. Jamie says now the efficiency is second to none and almost an hour has been taken off the morning routine, allowing more time for other jobs or an earlier finish for staff.

From clamp to tank

We will walk this process and identify all the potential wastes. Looking at a cow day, what is her ideal, how much time she wants to spend eating, drinking, lying and what affects this and how can we improve.

This is a workshop for the whole farm team, to talk through processes together and share improvements and best practices. You can then go home and apply these lean management techniques to your own business. Standardised processes can be used to inform and train new people as they come on to farm too.

This event will cover

How can a Japanese automotive technique help you to improve your business profits?
What are the stages of lean management and how can this benefit your business planning?
What are the typical areas of waste on a dairy farm?
How to create capacity and time to allow you to increase profits, or spend more time with your family!
How to get more buy-in and involvement from your staff and why this is important
How to implement end to end business mapping, process mapping and waste walks on your farm.
How to start creating ‘Action Plans’ and visual management boards

About Neil Fedden

Neil, Managing Director of Fedden USP, specialises in the application of Lean and Continuous Improvement into Retail, MoD, Local Government, Finance, Agriculture, Horticulture, Manufacturing, Engineering and Process Industries.

Find out more about lean management

Learn about Whitewool Farm

Cheshire: Leaning into Dairy Business Management

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:54:06 GMT

Join us at Curtis Hulme Farm for a practical workshop on the lean fundamentals with Dan Humphries.

This workshop will illustrate the fundamental principles of lean management and how they can be applied on dairy farms. You’ll see real examples of how these approaches improve profitability, personal satisfaction and animal welfare.

This workshop will cover:

The core concepts of lean management and how they fit into dairy farming
Examples of how lean has already been implemented successfully on farms
Ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency in day-to-day routines
How lean thinking can improve staff satisfaction and cow welfare
Practical ideas you can try straight away on your own unit
An introduction to the background of the farm, including a farm tour

About Dan Humphries

Dan graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Bristol in 2012 and went on to co-found Horizon Dairy Vets in 2017.

Operating out of Shropshire, he provides hands-on, technical, and management-driven support to farms across the West Midlands and North Wales, helping boost production efficiency. His impact extends globally as well, working with farmers and agribusinesses worldwide to empower and elevate agricultural practices.

Find out more about Curtis Hulme Farm

Gogledd Cymru: Rheoli clefyd Johne – Elw drwy Atal

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:56:40 GMT

Ymunwch â ni ar daith ‘cerdded a sgwrsio’ ar fferm, a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer pob aelod o’ch tîm fferm chi, i’ch darparu â’r offer, yr wybodaeth, a’r hyder i gymryd y cam nesaf i reoli clefyd Johne.

Wrth i’r diwydiant ddechrau ar gyfnod newydd o reoli clefyd Johne, mae’r gofynion profi yn newid a phrotocolau rheoli’r clefyd yn symud ymlaen. Mae unrhyw gamau a gymerir i daclo clefyd Johne yn cael effaith raeadrol ar reolaeth o glefydau eraill yn eich buches hefyd, felly argymhellir yn gryf eich bod yn mynychu, hyd yn oed os nad ydych chi’n ystyried bod clefyd Johne yn her i’ch buches chi.

P’un ai oes gennych chi gynllun yn barod, neu’n cael trafferth gwybod ble i ddechrau, mi fydd y digwyddiadau hyn yn cynnig arweiniad ymarferol, yn rhannu profiadau fferm go iawn, ac yn darparu cyngor arbenigol i’ch helpu i fireinio eich cynllun clefyd Johne, lleihau achosion o’r clefyd a gwella iechyd y fuches yn gyffredinol.

Byddwch yn clywed yn uniongyrchol gan y ffermwr ei hun a’i filfeddyg, a fydd yn rhannu eu profiad o reoli clefyd Johne – boed hynny’n sicrhau buches risg isel neu’n taclo’r heriau presennol.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn trafod:

Gwneud y mwyaf o ddata cofnodi llaeth
Rheoli clefyd Johne drwy wella hylendid lloi
Rheoli buchod ar adeg lloia yn unol â’u statws o ran haint
Egwyddorion bioddiogelwch hanfodol: biogaethiwo a biowahardd
Mireinio agwedd eich tîm at newid ymddygiad ar y fferm

Rydym hefyd yn cynnig cyfle i fynychwyr sy’n cofnodi llaeth i gofrestru ar gyfer gweithdy meincnodi dilynol, a fydd yn caniatáu ichi ddeall data eich buches eich hun mewn perthynas ag eraill, yn rhoi cymorth dilynol ichi, ac yn eich helpu i fframio’r sgwrs gyda’ch milfeddyg eich hun i atgyfnerthu cynllun gweithredu clefyd Johne penodol eich fferm chi.

Os ydych chi’n barod i fynd ymhellach ar eich siwrnai rheoli clefyd Johne, mae hwn yn gyfle gwych ichi adeiladu ar yr hyn rydych wedi’i ddysgu, a dysgu oddi wrth ffermwyr eraill rhagweithiol.

Darllenwch am y digwyddiad hwn yn Saesneg

Ceredigion: Rheoli clefyd Johne – Elw drwy Atal

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:40:33 GMT

Ymunwch â ni ar daith ‘cerdded a sgwrsio’ ar fferm, a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer pob aelod o’ch tîm fferm chi, i’ch darparu â’r offer, yr wybodaeth, a’r hyder i gymryd y cam nesaf i reoli clefyd Johne.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn trafod:

Gwneud y mwyaf o ddata cofnodi llaeth
Rheoli clefyd Johne drwy wella hylendid lloi
Rheoli buchod ar adeg lloia yn unol â’u statws o ran haint
Egwyddorion bioddiogelwch hanfodol: biogaethiwo a biowahardd
Mireinio agwedd eich tîm at newid ymddygiad ar y fferm

Os ydych chi’n barod i fynd ymhellach ar eich siwrnai rheoli clefyd Johne, mae hwn yn gyfle gwych ichi adeiladu ar yr hyn rydych wedi’i ddysgu, a dysgu oddi wrth ffermwyr eraill rhagweithiol.

Darllenwch am y digwyddiad hwn yn Saesneg

Derbyshire: Optimising soil nutrition - What’s in it for me?

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:26:26 GMT

Join AHDB’s Strategic Dairy Farmers Graham, Justine and Jess Worsey from Rough Grounds Farm in Derbyshire and Technical Director at Farm Carbon Toolkit, Becky Wilson.

The Worseys an Becky will explore how this farm is working towards optimising soil nutrition, with a focus on understanding both the nutrients present in the soil and, crucially, which of those nutrients are actually available to the plant. We’ll discuss how soil structure and biology influence nutrient cycling, and how farmers can better manage soils to support healthy, productive dairy systems.

We’ll also look at how compaction and “rusting” (soil oxidation and degradation) can be reduced, both through natural biological processes and mechanical interventions, and what difference that makes to root development, water retention, and resilience.

From unlocking nutrient availability to building healthier soil structures, all of these debates and more will be covered as we examine the vital role soil science plays in dairy farm performance.

This meeting will cover

Do roots do it on their own?
Is chicory sensible or is red clover a better option?
How can we get air into those heavy soils?
How do you get them to work in dairy? Where’s the sweet spot?

About Becky Wilson:

Becky joined Farm Carbon Toolkit in January 2014. A strong advocate for the economic benefits of sustainable farming, she now splits her time between Farm Carbon Toolkit and Duchy College Rural Business School, where she works as a technical specialist in resource management. In 2016, she was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to explore how best to communicate carbon reduction schemes to farmers - Insights that continue to inform her work today.

Find out more about Rough Grounds Farm

Smart starts: Unlocking lifetime value from every calf

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:18:28 GMT

Join us for a practical, on-farm event exploring how to get the most from every calf, from birth to beef, as part of GB Calf Week in collaboration with the Farm Net Zero Project.

This interactive day will feature three focused talk stations, each led by industry experts, designed to help you improve calf performance, boost lifetime value, and meet market requirements. You’ll have the chance to hear the latest evidence, see best practice in action, and discuss ideas directly with speakers and fellow farmers.

Talk stations include:

Breeding and carcass quality – Producing animals that deliver (Victoria Ashmore, AHDB): How to match the right bull to the right cow for calves that hit market specs, with the carcass traits that add value – supported by data and practical on-farm decision-making.
Feeding – Balancing efficiency, carbon & profit (Hannah Jones, Farm Carbon Toolkit): Explore ration options, greenhouse gas impacts, and profitability, and discover how nutrition choices can work for both the bottom line and the environment.
Getting the right start – Setting calves up to thrive (Emily Linton, Castle Vets): Key steps in early life management to secure health, growth, and long-term productivity, plus how to monitor success and avoid post-weaning setbacks.

Why attend?

Gain practical, evidence-based ideas you can take back to your farm.
See how small changes can deliver big improvements in calf outcomes.
Network with fellow dairy and beef producers.
Support the launch of the GB Calf Strategy: Right Calf, Right Start

Case study: Keeping grass in the diet during drought at Wolfhall Farm, Wiltshire

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:05:15 GMT

Case study: Keeping grass in the diet during drought at Wolfhall Farm, Wiltshire

Lancashire: Johne's Management - Profit through Prevention

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:18:11 GMT

Join us for a lunch and learn, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

As the industry moves into a new phase of Johne's disease management, testing requirements are changing and disease management protocols are progressing. Any steps taken to tackle Johne's have a cascade impact in control of other diseases in your herd too, so attending is highly recommended even if you don’t consider Johne's a challenge to your herd.

Whether you have an existing plan, or are struggling to know where to start, these events will offer practical guidance, share real-farm experience and give you expert advice to help refine your Johne's plan, reduce disease prevalence and improve overall herd health.

You’ll hear from Pete Orpin, who will discuss how to manage Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

We’re also offering attendees who milk record the opportunity to sign up for a follow-on benchmarking workshop, which will allow you to understand your own herd data in relation to others, give you follow-up support, and help you frame the conversation with your own vet to bolster your farm’s bespoke Johne's action plan.

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.

North Wales: Johne's Management - Profit through Prevention

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:10:56 GMT

Join us for a farm walk and talk, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

You’ll hear directly from the host farmer and their vet, who will share their experience managing Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.

Read this event in Welsh

Cornwall: Johne's management - Profit through prevention

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:05:35 GMT

Join us for a farm walk and talk, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

You’ll hear directly from the host farmer and their vet, who will share their experience managing Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.

Wiltshire: Johne's management - Profit through prevention

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:52:36 GMT

Join us for a farm walk and talk, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

You’ll hear directly from the host farmer and their vet, who will share their experience managing Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.

Shropshire: Johne's management - Profit through prevention

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:47:30 GMT

Join us for a farm walk and talk, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

You’ll hear directly from the host farmer and their vet, who will share their experience managing Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.

Dorset: Johne's management - Profit through prevention

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:37:13 GMT

Join us for a farm walk and talk, designed for your whole farm team which will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in Johne's disease control.

You’ll hear directly from the host farmer and their vet, who will share their experience managing Johne's – whether that's maintaining a low-risk herd or tackling current challenges.

The meeting will cover:

Making the most of milk recording data
Johne's control through better calf hygiene
Managing cows during calving according to their infection status
Critical Biosecurity principles: biocontainment and bioexclusion
Fine tuning your team approach to on-farm behaviour change

If you're ready to go further in your Johne's control journey, this is a great opportunity to build on what you’ve learned and learn from other proactive farmers.