Meet the Farmer - what ecologists need to know about farming

Summary

If you have ever wondered what farmers are doing and why, this is your opportunity to ask. Farmers, ecologists and environmental advisers must develop closer working relationships to deal with the climate and environmental crises, but how? Come and find out more about Welsh farming.
There are no stupid questions!

A joint event with CyFAN Cymru: Cymdeithas dros Fwyd, Amaeth a Natur / Community for Food, Agriculture and Nature.

Description

The relationship between ecologists and farmers has not always been an easy one, but all must work together if we are to attempt to solve the climate and environmental crises, while still ensuring that food is produced.
This event will bring together farmers, ecologists and environmental managers with the aim of enhancing the relationships between them through a closer understanding of farming practices and their effects on farm ecology and environmental management.
A small panel of farmers will explain how they feel they can balance the needs of food production and the environment. They will then be happy to answer any questions about farm practices.
This is your chance to ask what farmers are doing, how they do it and why. There are no stupid questions!

This event will be recorded and made available to registered attendees following the event. If you have questions and prefer not to be in the recording, please feel free to submit them in advance to mandymarsh@cieem.net by 12 Sept, or use the chat box so we can read them out on your behalf.

Speakers:
Nicola Cutcher (Chair) is an investigative journalist working in broadcast and print media with a strong interest in the environment. She has written for the Guardian, Times, Independent and Telegraphs, as well as a variety of magazines, and has also worked as a researcher and assistant producer at the BBC. She is a trustee of Friends of the River Wye.

Hilary Kehoe farms on the Carneddau Mountains near Bethesda with her family where they use their Highland cattle, native Carneddau ponies and sheep to graze nature reserves and SSSIs across North Wales to maintain and improve waxcap fungi, fen, coastal marsh, haymeadow and dune heath habitats. She has worked to connect farmers and conservationists to benefit wildlife and habitats in Wales for many years. She was the Nature Friendly Farming Network Chair for Wales for 3 years and is still closely involved with the organisation, working to farm profitably whilst promoting nature conservation.

Emma Douglas farms on the Gower Peninsula. She keeps sucklers through to finishing off a range of native breeds including pedigree Welsh Black, Dexter and Shetland cattle which she grazes on traditional hay meadows, nature reserves and common land, totalling 110 hectares. She is passionate about conservation grazing and the role that cattle play in the ecosystem and that farming continues to play in our landscape, cultural heritage and in food production. Producing local, nutritionally dense food is another passion of hers, and her cattle are finished on a 100% pasture fed system and she sells her beef locally. Emma is a steering group member of the Nature Friendly Farming network Cymru and works for Pasture for Life.

Haydn Evans is a dairy farmer in Carmarthenshire, working with his wife and son. The farm is approximately 300 acres and has been organic for twenty years, supplying milk to Rachel's Organic dairy for yogurts. Haydn also grows a mixture of forage crops, including beans, peas and wheat. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and the underlying principle is to farm with nature. This includes managing hedges and ponds for wildlife, and this year saw the first appearance of an otter!

Knowledge Level

Suitable for all

Prior Knowledge

None required

Tickets