Last chance to apply for Beef and Sheep Technology Demonstration Farms

If you are interested in becoming a Beef and Sheep Technology Demonstration Farm you need to act now as the closing date for applications is Monday 14 October 2019 at 4pm.

Technology Demonstration Farms are being used to help DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) to deliver the Innovation, Technology, Evaluation, Demonstration Scheme. This new scheme, is part of the NI Rural Development Programme and is funded by DAERA and the EU.

Initially five beef farmers and two sheep farmers are being sought to welcome other farmers onto their farms to tell their story of how they have introduced new technologies into their business. Farms will be selected under three themes namely:

Grassland Management (three Beef Farms)
Grassland Management (two Sheep Farms)
Beef Fertility (two Beef Farms)

Eligible farms are expected to highlight a range of technologies which should currently be used on the farm. Farms are being sought for each theme with appointments being made on a competitive basis. Applicants 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. These visits will focus on the performance of the farm and will include data collected by the host farmers. CAFRE Beef and Sheep Technologists and scheme support staff will help the host farmer prepare to host visits and prepare information in relation to the farm. At each visit a support assistant will be available to help them with arrangements. All bookings will be made through CAFRE.

Technology Demonstration Farms (TDF’s) will receive a hosting payment of £600 for each visit. In addition, CAFRE will support TDF’s by analysing the performance of their technology, providing appropriate diagnostic testing and arranging, where appropriate, for specialists to visit and speak on their farm.

Beef and sheep farmers who might be interested in becoming a Technology Demonstration Farm can find out more details about the scheme and complete an online application.

Last chance to apply for Beef and Sheep Technology Demonstration Farms

Notes to editors:

Latest news