Technology Demonstration Farms still open for visits
Date published:
Technology Demonstration Farms (TDFs) provide a network of local farms which allow other farmers the opportunity to see new technology and innovations which they could adopt on their own farms.
Since the scheme was introduced in 2018, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has delivered over 600 TDF training events across Northern Ireland. These events have covered key sectors including dairy, beef, sheep, crop, environmental, and pig production. Feedback from participants has been excellent.
CAFRE has recently received approval to continue taking bookings for visits to all TDF farms until the end of October 2025.
One of the most popular Dairy TDFs is Philip Kyle’s at Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone who was appointed under the theme Feed Efficiency. The Kyle family farm comprises 90 milking cows in an all-year-round calving system.
In 2014 the decision was taken to reduce cow numbers and focus on maximising milk from forage. As a result, meal fed per cow has reduced, annual milk production per cow has increased, as well as total litres sold and profitability. Improving feed efficiency also plays a key role the environmental sustainability of the enterprise. Reduced concentrate feed intake results in a lower carbon footprint as well as improvements in nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency.
Philip says: “I am passionate about farming and am always trying to improve my business with the focus on being to maximise of use of grass. I enjoy welcoming groups of farmers and have had many different groups visit over the duration of the scheme to date. They give me the opportunity to explain what we are doing on the farm and to promote discussion on many different aspects of our farming practices including those technologies associated with improved grassland management. I am delighted that the scheme continues to be in operation and I am looking forward to having other groups visit us in the days ahead.”
Details of all the TDFs and how to book a visit are available on the CAFRE website under the business support area, Knowledge Transfer Programmes. Group bookings are being accepted by emailing: kt.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has funded the establishment of this network of Technology Demonstration Farms across Northern Ireland as part of the Rural Development Programme under the Innovation Technology Evaluation Demonstration (ITED) Scheme.
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