Preview
Postponed Dairy-Tech to be one of the largest events yet
After being postponed from its usual date in February amid concerns about Omicron, Dairy-Tech is set to go ahead as a live event on 7th April. Farmers Guide takes a look at what visitors can expect from this year’s event. Having switched to a virtual event last year due to Covid-19, this will be the first in-person Dairy-Tech event since 2020. Organisers say it will be one of the biggest yet, with over 80 new product launches planned and nearly 300 exhibitors booked into the Stoneleigh Park venue in Warwickshire. RABDF managing director Matt Knight commented: "The new date change means we have longer days and hopefully better weather allowing us to use additional space outside following a complete sell-out for indoor stand space. “Usual favourites are featured, including the Dairy Hub, offering guidance and insight on key industry issues and the Innovation Hub, where new products, ideas, technology and concepts will be discussed. Hoof trimming demonstrations will also feature at the event."
Hub to tackle key industry issues In line with topical issues affecting the industry, this year’s Dairy Hub will include a must-see session on environment, emissions and policy, which will look at the latest regulations and provide practical advice for farmers on how to reduce emissions and meet regulatory targets. It will also touch on some ground-breaking technology that could help demonstrate environmental credentials and determine areas for improvements. Also of particular interest is the Business Clinic, which will cover recruiting and managing staff, mentoring and connecting to the local
community. West Sussex dairy farmer Keith Gue, who milks 420 cows, will discuss his own challenges with staff management and recruitment, positive changes he made and the things that didn’t work so well. One of the most significant productivity gains, he says, came when he reduced working hours on the farm, giving the team greater opportunity to make the right decisions under less stress and fatigue. Other features include a talk by Sarah Tomlinson, TB Advisory Service veterinary consultant, who will help farmers determine what impact TB is having on management decisions to protect productivity and sustainabilty. As reducing endemic disease is one of the ways we can lessen our environmental impact, Sarah will discuss what farmers can do to reduce the length and probability of a TB breakdown and what impacts TB has on the farm business. Finally, LIC pasture to profit consultant Bess Jowsey looks at increasing pressure to grow alternative forages, which has prompted more farmers to consider establishing multispecies swards. Bess will outline the benefits and how they can be established.
funding opportunities available to dairy farmers and how to apply for them, including case studies from farmers. This includes an overview of the Transforming Food Production (TFP) challenge – a £90m funding programme supporting more sustainable food production systems. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about future funding opportunities available through the Defra Farming Innovation Programme. Visitors will also hear from Shropshire dairy farmer George Lester about how robots have allowed him to manage cows individually in the herd, which has halved his concentrate use by £30,000 a year and also improved health and productivity. While his forage costs have increased as he has doubled the milk from forage, he has yielded a total saving of £15,000. Speakers will also outline the benefits of carbon auditing to farmers, what’s involved and how the data from audits can be used to help reduce the environmental impacts of greenhouse gases in farming enterprises. Additionally, the App Store will make a return, exploring new technology that gives farmers more control over their future milk price. Covid-19 also halted the judging of the 2020 Gold Cup winners as the competition celebrated its 100th year. In autumn 2021, judges Philip Metcalfe, former Gold Cup winner; Trevor Lloyd, Anglesey farmer and NMR chairman; and Peter Alvis, RABDF chairman, were able to visit the finalists' farms. The winner will be announced at 4pm on the NMR stand. Tickets bought before the show are priced at £17 per person, or £20 at the door. Members of the RABDF receive two free tickets. To find out more about the event, what's on and how to buy tickets, go https://dairy-tech.uk/visiting/buytickets/ FG
New innovations The Innovation Hub will also make a return appearance, with new products, ideas, technology, concepts and techniques to help dairy businesses. The line-up will include a session led by UK Research and Innovation on the
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