Awards aim to lift profile of grassland farmers

THE co-ordinating body of Wales’ 21 grassland societies is aiming to widen its appeal to a new generation of grassland farmers by hosting an inaugural dinner and awards evening this month.

For the first time, the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies (FWGS) will present annual awards recognising excellence in grassland and silage production and in milk hygiene at one over-arching event.

Charlie Morgan, secretary of the FWGS, said the time was right to establish a special event to celebrate forward-thinking farmers.

Mr Morgan said: “We need to be more appealing to the next generation of grassland farmers.’

In previous years, the organisation has held only a daytime annual general meeting at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, with awards presented at that event.

“There was a feeling that we needed to lift the profile and social potential and create more interest around the awards,’’ explained Mr Morgan.

It was an appropriate time to launch the event, he added, given the greater emphasis now being placed on Wales’ potential to capitalise on production and environmental gains from grass.

Mr Morgan said: “Goodquality grassland farming produces high-quality and traceable food in terms of milk and meat.

“This has always been the case, but in the future grassland will play additional roles in mitigating flood risk, carbon sequestration and other environmental wins.

“We have to make the public aware that grassland farming and these go hand in hand.’’

The event comes in a year that has seen the relaunch of Clwyd Grassland Society and a year after the Llangadog branch was re-established.

The awards dinner, sponsored by CF Fertilisers, Corteva and Ecosyl, will take place in the Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth, on Friday, October 26 at 7pm.

Mr Morgan is hoping that the event will be supported by representatives of the 21 grassland societies in Wales and the wider industry.

The awards are sponsored by HSBC, Wynnstay, Bpi Silotite, Agri Lloyd and Diversey will be given for the best grassland, clamp and big bale silage and milk hygiene.