Young farmer initiative brings premium price for lambs

Two neighbouring young farmers in Powys are taking advantage of a new initiative to help boost profits from their sheep flocks.

Lloyd Bright and Marc Jones are joining in The Wales YFC Lamb Initiative to achieve a premium price for their lambs.

Two years ago 19-year-old Lloyd of Groes-y-Garreg, Berriew decided to invest his savings in 60 broken mouthed ewes to produce one final crop of lambs utilising the high quality dairy pasture available on his parent's dairy farm. This has been a highly successful venture for Lloyd giving him a significant return on investment that many seasoned farmers would be proud of. Last winter using profits from his enterprise he erected a sheep shed and this autumn he has expanded to 100 ewes and has plans to erect a handling race.

Lloyd markets his lambs through the Wales YFC Lamb Initiative, a project working in partnership between leading processor Dunbia and the supermarket Sainsbury's.

This gives YFC members the unique opportunity to supply Welsh lamb 52 weeks of the year to the Sainsbury's stores within Wales and Shropshire. All members participating in the Wales YFC Lamb Initiative also support Wales YFC as from every lamb sold through the scheme, Wales YFC receives 40p/head.

Lloyd states that the scheme offers him numerous benefits, which include lower costs in marketing and haulage, good information on animals sold, he can receive weights and conformation through his Blackberry on the day of slaughter as well a premium price over a conventional abattoir.

Wales YFC Rural Development Officer Kay Lewis said:"The vision for the Wales YFC Lamb Initiative is to support and encourage young people to remain within the farming industry and to offer a stepping stone for those trying to establish themselves as a supplier of Welsh Lamb."

One such member consistently meeting that specification is Marc Jones. The 28 year old ADAS consultant has recently established a flock of sheep on his parents' Trefnant Hall Farm, utilising technology seen during his HCC Scholarship study tour to New Zealand in 2009.

Marc has established a low input – high output system using no purchased concentrates, utilising winter forage crops and outdoor lambing to cut labour and reduce fixed costs. This system allows Marc to work full time and run 400 ewes on a very part time basis. In 2010 Marc won the coveted "National Sheep Association Cymru/Wales Award for contribution to the Welsh sheep industry (under 30)", for the implementation of his new sheep system.

Marc who is a member of the Sainsbury's "UK Farmer Lamb Production Steering Group" has been involved with The "Wales YFC Lamb Initiative" from its conception and Trefnant Hall was used to publicise the scheme during its infancy.

He sits on numerous industry committees and recently spoke at the hearing 'The Future of Europe's Young Farmers', in Brussels representing the problems associated with young farmers entering the agricultural industry in Wales and Europe.

"The lamb initiative has allowed the farm to receive a premium for its lamb but it has also allowed me to get more involved within the supply chain, with regular communication between Dunbia and Sainsburys," Marc said.

"The scheme has brought together many keen young farmers from across Wales who have had the chance to train and learn through on going discussion groups and study tours. So far the scheme has been a huge success with lamb numbers increasing from 250 a week up to 400. The 40 pence a lamb which Wales YFC receives has helped continue the good work Wales YFC does within the rural community."

If you are a young farmer under 40 years old who would like to receive a premium price for your lamb and benefit from attending training days the Wales YFC Lamb Initiative would be delighted to hear from you.

The scheme has an additional requirement for lambs in the next few months. If you are interested please contact Kay Lewis on 01982 553502 for more information or kay.lewis@yfc-wales.org.uk