CAFRE invites applications from beef and dairy farmers for Innovation Farms
Date published:
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is establishing a network of Innovation Farms across Northern Ireland. The role of these farms is to host visits and showcase the use of innovative sustainable practices aligned with the Sustainable Agriculture Programme. The aim is to encourage a greater rate of implementation of innovations.
It is the intention to appoint seven beef (including suckler and beef finishing) and seven dairy farms initially. Farms from other sectors will be appointed later this year. Farmers selected will be people who enjoy welcoming other farmers onto their farm and can tell their story of how they have introduced innovative sustainable practices into their businesses.
Farms will be selected which are aligned with delivering an agriculture sector with improved environmental sustainability, a focus on One Health, enhanced productivity, resilience, and an effective and functioning supply chain. Successful farms may major in one of the areas but must achieve a minimum score in all of them.
It should also be noted that if a herd does not have ‘OTF’ status with regard to Tuberculosis, the farm can still apply to be an Innovation Farm. If successful, the farm will be held on a reserve list until OTF status is regained.
Appointments will be made on a competitive basis and those farmers who meet the eligibility criteria, and are short-listed, will be assessed by a panel during a visit to their farm. Selected farms will be expected to host between eight and twelve visits for groups of between five and twenty five farmers. CAFRE Technologists/Advisers and scheme support staff will help the farmer prepare to host visits. A support staff member will also be available to help with arrangements at each visit.
Innovation Farms will receive a hosting payment of £786 for each visit. In addition, CAFRE will support these farms by analysing the performance of their innovation, providing appropriate diagnostic testing and arranging where appropriate, for specialists to visit and speak on their farm.
Farmers who are interested in becoming an Innovation Farm can find out more details and complete an online application at the CAFRE website.
Applications will open on Monday 26 January 2026 and close at 4:00pm on Friday 6 March 2026.
Innovation Farms is one element of DAERA’s Farming for Sustainability – Innovation Scheme. Visit the CAFRE website to apply to become an Innovation Farm.
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