This has been submitted by The Welsh Government

Farmers, foresters and horticulturalists wanting to reduce costs and improve business efficiency are urged to visit Farming Connect at this year’s Royal Welsh Spring Festival, which will take place at the Llanelwedd showground on 20 / 21 May.

Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which delivers the Farming Connect service on behalf of the Welsh Government, is expecting a busy time at this annual action-packed event. The series of practical daily demonstrations targeted at pig-keepers, a joint initiative between Farming Connect, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Hybu Cig Cymru and Menter Moch Cymru, is back by popular demand.

“You’ll find Farming Connect staff in a number of locations this year, including the Lantra building as well as the pig, forestry, horticulture and ‘Getting started’ stand in the Smallholder Centre. Our aim is to encourage all eligible individuals to tap into the many services and knowledge transfer events available in the current programme, all of which are either fully funded or subsidised by up to 80%. “Anyone wanting to prepare their business to meet the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead at this economically challenging time, should come and talk to our staff. “In the last 18 months, more than 850 individuals have accessed support through the Advisory Service and many are now reporting significant business and technical benefits. “With more than 7000 businesses in Wales now registered with Farming Connect, the programme is transforming the way many businesses are now managed, and events like the Spring Fair enable us to meet more people and to introduce our teams of regionally based staff and experts,” said Mrs. Williams.

Held in the pig section, the daily pig demonstrations will be conducted by renowned pig specialist, Bob Stevenson.

“There will be guidance and advice for beginners and experts alike, focusing on the importance of good pig health and welfare. These will range from spotting physical pig signals to help you detect early signs of disease, to the treatment and management of disease”, said Gwawr Hughes, Farming Connect’s pig and poultry technical officer

Hybu Cig Cymru will also host daily sessions on producing and marketing pork in Wales.

“Hybu Cig Cymru will be launching its new range of point of sale materials produced in partnership with Menter Moch Cymru at the event,” said Rhys Llywelyn, HCC’s Market Development Manager. “The recipe cards are designed for use by producers and retailers and offer a range of recipes which can be produced using pork from Wales. Supplies will be available to those producers currently signed up to the porc.wales website and members of Menter Moch Cymru.”

Click here to see the full timetable for the pig demonstrations.