Farm visits highlight how passion can pay dividends
A busy summer has highlighted the breadth of activities that the British Grassland Society is involved with as well as the great range of members that the society serves, writes Elaine Jewkes.
Our summer meeting in Cornwall attracted a total of about 300 full and day delegates, who were undeterred by weather that was less than kind and definitely not summery until the last day.
Despite the inclement weather, a broad variety of farm visits, alongside true Cornish hospitality ensured it was a meeting enjoyed by all. Most importantly, the farms we visited all served to highlight how a passion for grass and forage management can make a farming enterprise work, even at these times of high market volatility.
The value of excellence in grassland and forage management will have been further highlighted to the judges of the BGS flagship competition, sponsored by DLF Trifolium and Yara, who have recently visited the three finalists, this year from Northern Ireland, Wales and south west England, to determine who will win the coveted trophy.
Each year we see a new group of contestants who demonstrate the message that excellent grass and forage management pays, as have previous winners and finalists. Having been a judge in the competition before becoming BGS director, it is a genuine privilege to visit the farms of the finalists, and to see the quality of management that is practised.
While the judges must determine a winner, it is hugely positive and enjoyable, and there is always something to learn. The winner will be announced at a presentation on September 23.
We brought two worlds together this week in another major event, the 12th BGS Research Conference. This was held at Aberystwyth University, the work "home" of our current society president, Dr Jon Moorby. The papers and posters presented at the conference covered a vast range of grassland topics.
It was a superb reminder of the breadth offered by grassland and fabulous to see the interest among the delegates for all of the varied topics covered. I was particularly pleased to see delegates and offered papers from the trade, as well as research.
We completed the BGS world by visiting last year's Grassland Farmer of the Year, Dafydd Jones, at his beef and sheep farm at Penegoes, near Machynlleth, where delegates were able to see the superb management which made Dafydd a deserving holder of the trophy.
* Elaine Jewkes is society director of the British Grassland Society
