NI livestock farmers offered free upland study tour

Livestock farmers from Northern Ireland are being offered the opportunity to visit upland farms in the Peak District to learn about innovative approaches to managing the uplands.

The trip, administered by Daera and paid for by the Farm Innovation Visits Scheme, will take place on the 15-16 October and costs of accommodation, travel and meals will be covered for 16 farmers.

It will focus on the benefits of mixed grazing, the re-introduction of winter grazing to the uplands, heather management techniques and virtual fencing.

See also: Tips to help livestock farmers plan a winter feed budget

Applications are open to a member or employee of a farm business that is actively farming SDA land with at least 150 breeding females (including ewe lambs) or 20 beef-bred suckler cows, and close at 4pm on Tuesday 1 October 2019.

All applicants must identify a group of farmers to share their findings with on their return.

The trip is one of a wider programme of events organised to give farmers experience of innovations within a specific sector that are not currently practiced in the Northern Irish farming industry.