October 4, 2023

 

UK's AHDB to launch three new Strategic Dairy Farms

 

 

The United Kingdom's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is launching three new Strategic Dairy Farms and encourage farmers to get involved with the programme and follow their journeys.

 

The Strategic Dairy Farm network provides a platform for farmer-to-farmer learning, accelerating the uptake of knowledge and showcasing best practice.

 

The programme represents a wide range of farm businesses across the UK, and the new cohort contains a mix of different systems and focus areas, each farm acting as a focal point for regional and national discussions.

 

Lydney Park Farms, Dillington Farms and Moorhouse Hall Farm are the first three of 10 farms in the new cohort.

 

Ollie Blackburn, farm manager at Dillington Farms, said: "The programme is a great opportunity to work with different people from around the industry. The estate and our farming policies have changed massively over the last few years, and we are now very environmentally focused and trying to do things in a more sustainable way.

 

"While we feel that we may be doing things slightly differently to others, it is always good to be challenged in a positive way, and we can't wait to share our experiences and learn from others."

 

Strategic Dairy Farms are committed to continuous improvement, and their goals include a focus on sustainable genetics and experimenting with new crops. These farms will be involved in various on-farm and virtual meetings over the next few years, opening up discussions and allowing farmers to share their stories.

 

The launch events for these farms will include farm tours, with an opportunity to find out more about operations, performance figures and goals for the farm. This will give attendees a unique chance to measure their own performance against others and discuss areas for improvement with our experts.

 

Additionally, the Strategic Dairy Farm programme aims to improve business resilience and performance across the dairy industry through knowledge exchange and the adoption of best practices.

 

Senior knowledge exchange manager (dairy) Doreen Anderson said: "We are delighted to welcome three new farms into our network, and I would strongly encourage any dairy farmers to get involved in this programme and consider attending the launch events.

 

"Listening to farmers challenge and support each other while discussing ideas for improving their businesses is amazing. Ideas are constantly being shared both between the farmers individually and between AHDB and the farmers, driving positive change for everyone involved."

 

- AHDB