Farming Talk: Young farmers gain top lamb price in scheme

Neighbours Lloyd Bright and Marc Jones are two keen young farmers who are taking advantage of a new scheme 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 parents' dairy farm. 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. The project works in partnership between leading processor Dunbia and the supermarket Sainsbury's, to give YFC members the unique opportunity to supply Welsh lamb 52 weeks of the year to the Sainsbury's stores within Wales and Shropshire. The initiative also supports Wales YFC as from every lamb sold through the scheme, Wales YFC receives 40p/head.

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

Wales YFC Rural Development Officer Kay Lewis says 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.

Another YFC 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, using 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, using winter forage crops and outdoor lambing to cut labour and reduce fixed costs. This system allows him 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 is a member of the Sainsbury's UK Farmer Lamb Production Steering Group and has been involved with The Wales YFC Lamb Initiative from its conception. Trefnant Hall was used to publicise the scheme during its infancy.

He says the lamb initiative has brought together many keen young farmers who have had the chance to train and learn through discussion groups and study tours. If you are a farmer under 40 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.

Contact Kay Lewis on (01982) 553502 for more information or kay.lewis@yfc-wales.org.uk

Heather Jones is editor of our sister publication The Farmer