Northwest Farms Monitor Launched

Five livestock farms will become focal points for Northwest farmers wanting to improve productivity.
 
The monitor farms in Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire will allow groups of interested farmers and industry experts to work together and share their knowledge and expertise, and to try out new ways of increasing productivity.
 
The aim is to increase the levels of performance for the host farms, and the performance of farmers in Monitor Farm Business Groups attached to the monitor farms, over the next three years. A sixth monitor farm will be announced in September.

In Cheshire the dairy farm being monitored is Clive Hall Farm in Winsford.  The beef and sheep farm will be confirmed in September.

Each farm will hold four business group meetings a year, and one open day a year, which all farmers in the area can attend.

The first meetings in Cheshire will be held in September. To register an interest in joining a business group in Cheshire, contact Tim Goldsbrough at Reaseheath College on 01270 625 131.

Further information about the farms and the programme as a whole is available on the Northwest Livestock Programme’s newly launched website http://www.livestocknw.co.uk/ – where regular updates on the meetings, work and results will appear as the project develops.

The website also provides information on the support and grants available through the Livestock Programme, as well as news, events and fact sheets on the themes of improving farm competitiveness through improved animal health and welfare, nutrient management and resource efficiency. You can register with the site to receive emailed updates via a monthly newsletter.

Further information is available from Adrian Capstick: acapstick@myerscough.ac.uk
And Sam Shale, Press Officer at NWDA on 01925 400264 or: sam.shale@nwda.co.uk

The RDPE Northwest Livestock Programme is a support package specifically for livestock farmers in the North West. Work will focus on improving farm competitiveness through better animal health and welfare and more efficient use of the main farm resources such as fertiliser, fuel, water and energy between 2009 and 2013.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is managing the North West's Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is funded by the European Union through Defra.  Myerscough College, Cumbria Farm Network, Reaseheath Colege, SAC and Promar are delivering the work with support from Eblex, Dairyco and EFFP.

Please click here for the full press release from Myerscough College.