The visit provided an opportunity to showcase a working hill farm and discuss the challenges currently facing farming businesses, including drought conditions, grazing management and the role of technology in supporting resilient food production.
GPS collar technology
A key topic of discussion was Katie's use of GPS collar technology with her Stabiliser cattle. The technology enables her to maximise the value of upland grazing resources by managing grazing pressure more precisely and making informed management decisions that deliver both environmental and productivity benefits.
“Farmers are having to make difficult decisions every day while continuing to produce high-quality food.”
Katie-Rose Davies, NFU Cymru Glamorgan County Chair
Katie explained the important role her cattle play in reducing wildfire risk on Bwlch Mountain, alongside sheep grazing on the surrounding hills. Through grazing and trampling vegetation, livestock help reduce the build-up of dry, flammable material such as grass, bracken and gorse. This lowers the overall fuel load while creating natural firebreaks that can help slow or prevent the spread of wildfires across the landscape.
Grazing management
The ongoing drought conditions provided a timely backdrop to discussions on grazing management. During the visit, it was evident how grazing strategies are having to adapt to ensure livestock maintain access to water supplies, with concerns that some natural water sources are already beginning to dry up.
As a result, farmers are increasingly being forced to adjust grazing plans, slow rotational grazing, introduce winter silage earlier than intended, or move stock onto sacrifice paddocks to protect grassland and maintain livestock welfare.
Realities of the recent dry weather
Katie also highlighted that her lambs remain on the hills, as grass growth in the lower fields has been insufficient to support finishing lambs. Although the farm has established several herbal ley swards on its lowland ground, renowned for their deeper root systems and drought resilience, the prolonged dry weather has significantly reduced growth and ground cover. This is a growing concern, as these fields form a key part of the farm's lamb-finishing system.
Reflecting on the visit, Katie said: "It was a valuable opportunity to highlight some of the realities farmers are facing during one of the driest periods in recent years. From managing grazing pressure and maintaining water supplies to reducing wildfire risk and protecting livestock welfare, farmers are having to make difficult decisions every day while continuing to produce high-quality food."
Strive to balance everything
NFU County adviser Grug Evans said:
“The visit provided valuable insight into the resilience and adaptability required of farming businesses as they work to balance food production, environmental management and animal welfare in increasingly challenging conditions.”
