AHDB Beef & Lamb has announced that it is looking for five new farms to take part in a programme which aims to improve livestock businesses.

The Strategic Farm Programme, which started in 2017, has been set up to demonstrate the benefits of implementing best practice on farms and improve the financial performance of businesses. There are already 11 farms, mainly focused around suckler production, participating in the programme. This year AHDB is looking to recruit farms from a range of systems, but predominantly sheep businesses.

Clive Brown, head of knowledge exchange, beef & lamb, said: “Our Strategic Farmers have seen some real benefits delivered on farm over the past year and a half. We looked at a range of areas from grassland production and nutrition to breeding and animal health to help drive their businesses forward.

“Each farm monitored performance by regularly weighing and benchmarking through our own tool Farmbench. All activity carried out on the farm was shared at open farm meetings, which provided attendees the opportunity to learn from the host’s experience. Even though it’s been a relatively short period in terms of livestock production, we’ve already seen improvements across all the businesses.

“We are expanding the programme this year and looking to include a wider range of businesses with a particular focus on sheep production.”

Farmers wishing to apply or who would like to know more about the Strategic Farm Programme should be directed HERE, they’ll find more details and the application form.

Closing date for applications is May 13, 2019.