Pwllheli farmer wins farm award at Royal Welsh Show
Gwyndaf Jones, a beef and sheep farmer from Cae’r Graig Farm, a 100 acre farm in Pwllheli, has won the Simple Solutions Farming Award. He won the award for making a number of environmental improvements on the farm, which has become a popular destination for day trips by the local primary school.
Both the winner and runners up ’ Teifion and Joanna Rees of Gilfach Farm, Llangadog - were announced by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes, Alun Davies, at a special ceremony at the Welsh Government’s building at the Royal Welsh Show today (Tuesday 19 July).
The Simple Solutions Farming Award is a joint venture by Environment Agency Wales and Farming Connect, the Welsh Government’s support service for farmers. They aim to recognise and reward farmers who make small scale changes to their farms in order to both improve profits and benefit the local environment.
Gwyndaf has established a manure and slurry management scheme which has led to a 20 per cent reduction in inorganic fertiliser use, as well as a water-harvesting facility which he uses for animal drinking purposes.
He has also created a small pond, which means that no water enters the public highway, therefore reducing the risk of flooding - an issue that was previously frequent in the area.
A programme of hedgerow protection and establishment has enhanced the habitats of local wildlife on the farm. Waste branches from the hedgerow are then wood-chipped and used for animal bedding for young cattle.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture Alun Davies congratulated the winners, saying:
’I congratulate both our worthy winners on their awards today. The simple changes they have made on their farms are clearly making a big difference to their businesses and to the local environment. With the current environmental challenges that face us, not to mention the requirements placed upon us by the CAP, there are many small things that we can do to help the environment. I hope these awards will prove an inspiration to others to make changes to their businesses with the support and advice of Farming Connect.’
Chris Mills, Director of Environment Agency Wales, said:
’We were really impressed with Gwyndaf’s entry and I want to personally congratulate him. The changes that he has made to his farm add up to real cost savings. Gwyndaf is an example to all farmers of just how easy it is to establish new working practices which can save you money and deliver environment benefits. He is actively helping to protect his local environment and delivering enhanced habitats for wildlife and cleaner rivers.’
The runners up, Teifion and Joanna Rees, Gilfach Farm, Llangadog also received praise for the changes they have made to their farm.
Teifion and Joanna Rees are sheep and pig farmers on a 280 acre farm in Llangadog. They believe it’s important for people to change their farming practices to protect the environment for the future.
They have been improving the quality of the soil on the farm which has led to high quality silage production. This includes composting their farm manure and putting it back on the land, as well as planting white clover.
They have been looking at sustainable methods of watering their stock, including rainwater harvesting and pond creation.
Hedgerows have been established on the farm which has specifically benefited birds and bees on the farm and led to an abundance of other wildlife.
