Ed Wright, head of Sustainability at Dale Farm, with the new sustainable bottle cap packaging.

While coloured bottle caps cannot be easily recycled, the move to clear caps means that bottles and caps can now be recycled together into food-grade packaging. The switch is estimated to return nearly 60 million caps – 72 tonnes – to such packaging annually.

According to Ed Wright, head of Sustainability at Dale Farm, the move is the latest in a series of measures aimed at enhancing sustainability across the business.

“At Dale Farm we want to lead the dairy sector on sustainability,” he said. “We constantly assess our processes to see where we can improve, and step by step we are improving packaging sustainability across our product range.

“We’re proud to be the first in Northern Ireland to replace all coloured caps with clear caps on our Dale Farm branded milk bottles as well as those we produce for our retail partners,” he added.

Although a small change, it is hoped the new caps will positively impact the cooperative’s environmental footprint in the long term.

The new clear cap bottles will be launched on shelves in early May 2023. Labels will continue to be colour-coded to allow shoppers to distinguish between different types of milk.

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According to Kingshay’s cost report from December 2022, UK farmers produce just 2,900 litres from forage on average. Meanwhile, there is huge scope for improving this figure and reducing feed costs, with some farms achieving as much as 5,300 litres of milk from forage, Wynnstay’s head of dairy David Howard said.

“Every 1,000 litres of milk from forage equates to approximately 460kg of concentrate feed, and so by increasing homegrown forage quality, you can make some significant savings on total feed costs,” he pointed out.

Mr Howard said the ideal digestibility value for forage is over 70, however, of the 1,228 forage samples analysed by Wynnstay, more than two-thirds had less than 70 digestibility value, with 12% less than 60.

He added forage quality is becoming increasingly important in the dairy industry, with many milk processors now offering producers incentives to reduce soya and improve their total feed efficiency, which is driven by the quality of forage.

“We are launching Forage4Profit, which is a four-point programme to help farmers improve each stage of their forage production from field to feed out. It covers everything from soil health through to seed selection, crop preservation and ration formulation,” Mr Howard revealed.

1. Soil health

Having balanced soils is vital to making good-quality forage, as poor soil health will limit crop growth and quality, Mr Howard pointed out, adding that around 80% of soil samples carried out by Wynnstay are the incorrect pH.

He urged farmers to carry out regular soil sampling and correct any imbalances. “It is also important to identify areas of compaction and aerate soils to combat this, as well as creating bespoke fertiliser plans tailored to individual nutrient requirements,” he stressed.

2. Seed selection

Seed selection will vary with individual farms depending on soil type, rainfall, quality targets, and how much forage farmers are aiming to produce.

“We must remember when we plant a seed in the ground on a dairy farm, the end product is not necessarily a crop – it’s a litre of milk. Milk is the saleable commodity and so seed selection must be linked to what the farmer is trying to produce,” Mr Howard said.

He recommended reseeding fields regularly, particularly under-performing leys, and consulting a grass seed specialist to select the best variety for the farm. He said multi-species leys and crops are great for increasing forage quality because of high-protein crops such as red clover and lucerne,

3. Crop preservation

Getting this aspect right is often challenging because of the UK’s variable weather conditions. According to Mr Howard, grass starts losing energy (sugars) immediately after it is cut until the crop is clamped. Therefore, grass should be cut, tedded, wilted, and picked up in quick succession to minimise the loss of valuable nutrients.

“As a starting point, work out the crop’s nutrient requirements and apply slurry and nitrogen fertiliser accordingly,” he said. “It is also important to ensile the crop quickly to reduce dry matter losses and use an effective inoculant to rapidly drop the pH and reduces losses.”

4. Balanced ration

Last but not least, feeding balanced rations is key when it comes to maximising milk yield from forage. “The complete diet is only as good as the forage foundation; the best results are achieved with high-quality forage and balanced concentrates,” Mr Howard noted.

He suggested working with a nutritionist to establish a good balance between forage and concentrate feed and ensure optimal protein utilisation and efficiency. “Using rumen additives such as Diamond V can help increase feed conversion efficiency,” he added.

To learn more about Forage4Profit, visit: https://www.wynnstay.co.uk/forage-for-profit

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World Animal Vaccination Day recognises the significant impact that vaccines have on protecting livestock and pets from life-threatening disease, improving animal welfare and also playing a part in sustainable farming and production.

Whilst uptake of vaccines in the livestock sector has increased over the past 10 years, it could still be greatly improved, NOAH says.

NOAH highlighted its Livestock Vaccination Guideline for on-farm use, which offers best practice advice to dairy, beef and sheep producers, to help them get the most out of vaccination.

Dawn Howard, chief executive of NOAH said: “On this World Animal Vaccination Day it’s vital that we recognise that livestock vaccination is not just a recommended practice but a critical one, especially as the world faces new challenges such as emerging diseases, climate change, and changing demands.

“We must continue to promote the crucial role of livestock vaccination in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for animals, farmers, and consumers alike.”

The guidance divides vaccines into category one – high priority – and category two – best practice, based on farmer and vet discussion.

As well as improving animal health and welfare, preventing disease is the most effective way to support responsible antibiotic use, NOAH says. This is done through vaccination, breeding, hygiene, nutrition, optimised accommodation and all aspects of animal husbandry.

Several vaccines including leptospirosis and salmonellosis also protect human health by reducing the risk of zoonotic infection.

With livestock farming under considerable pressure to contribute to the response to climate change, reducing disease also has a role to play in achieving net zero.

The UK Climate Change Committee has proposed cost effective measures to reduce GHG emissions, with specific priorities for endemic cattle disease control. Five of the measures in the prioritised list are vaccinations, for IBR, BVD, salmonella, calf pneumonia and Johne’s disease.

Dawn Howard added: “Livestock vaccination can be complex, but provides huge benefits, not just for animal health and welfare, but also has a positive impact on food, economic and job security in the UK. Having the right tools, medicines and technology to provide adequate prevention, diagnostics, monitoring and treatment has never been more important.”

Read NOAH’s Livestock Vaccination Guideline here: https://www.noah.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NOAH-Livestock-Vaccination-Guideline-August-2022.pdf

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Stock photo for illustration purposes only.

As part of its sustainability focus, Genus ABS has been striving to their genetic portfolio has the capability to nourish the world, in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way possible.

This is well supported by the data results of traits including maintenance, Envirocow and Feed Advantage, as well as the company’s progress towards making efficient and strong polled animals (a cow which is born naturally without horns as a result of its DNA).

EMEA dairy brand manager for Genus ABS, Hannah Goodwin, commented: “Every April the base average of every animal changes due to the genetic progress of the national herd, and for this reason, the average increases.

“With that said, we have shown that we have the most diverse variety of sexed bulls available in the market, allowing us to identify sires to allow us to create the right genetic plan to meet our customer’s goals.”

Among the stars of the line-up is DeNovo 18757 Homeland, son of Pine-Tree Gardner, a great new addition to the Sexcel offering. This sire has a £PLI of £841 and a production value of +844kgs. Whilst producing high quantities of milk, the sire will also maximise the positive components of fat (0.08%) and protein (0.09%.)

Available in Sexcel, Genus ABS sexed genetics, DeNovo 18757 Homeland offers great fertility with a score of +9.2, plus an additional +143 days of lifespan.

Whereas, DeNovo 2808 Anton, son of Denovo 16219 Aladdin, offers a package of High £PLI of £837, milk +597kgs and components of +0.19% fat, and 0.10% protein. This sire excels for management traits with daughter fertility of +11.7 and lifespan of +180 days. He also offers high scores of +2.0 for calf survival and +1.9 lameness advantage.

Meanwhile, the number one homozygous polled sire available on the market is DeNovo 9443 Meridian-PP, another Genus ABS ‘icon sire’, with a £PLI value of £819. Son of Mendel-P, Meridian-PP offers phenomenal components of +0.45% fat and +0.19% protein and his offspring will all be polled (hornless), which is both sustainable and cost-effective.

Genus ABS’s DeNovo 9443 Meridian-PP.

As for the top sexed homozygous polled sire, DeNovo 18452 York-PP is the highest £PLI homozygous sire with sexed semen available on the market with a £PLI of £772.

York-PP offers strong components with +0.34% fat and +0.11% protein along with impressive management traits. This sire has a positive feed advantage score of +176, a daughter fertility of +8.9, and a healthy cow score of +233. The daughters of this strong sire will be of low stature and suitable for commercial systems.

DeNovo 18452 York-PP, the highest £PLI homozygous sire with sexed semen on the market, bred by Genus ABS.

The red and white star in the company’s line-up is Ruw Tricky-Red, another Genus ABS ‘icon sire’, offering a £PLI of £670. Ruw Tricky-Red is perfect for breeding with all Rubels Red daughters and has an impressive milk score of +813kgs, plus components including +27.2kg fat, +28.4kgs protein and a lifespan score of +156 days.

The red and white star, Genus ABS’s Ruw Tricky-Red.

Striving for sustainability

Genus ABS is making continuous efforts to both feed the world and make the supply chain more sustainable. To achieve this, the company has invested in the genetics of its polled animals, which offer a great genetic portfolio and prevent the need to remove horns, saving the average farmer thousands of pounds a year.

According to Genus ABS’ Real World Data, the company’s sexed genetics, Sexcel, has a 95% relative conception rate, offering farmers peace of mind that their cows will get pregnant and will deliver strong, efficient and female offspring.

Therefore, Sexcel ensures every animal in the herd will have a purpose, helping to reduce the farm’s carbon footprint.

If you’re interested in improving your herd’s genetics, visit the Genus ABS website or speak to one of their experts on 01270 616681.

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Bale grazing implemented at Gowbarrow Hall Farm. Image credit to Angus Birditt, Pasture for Life.

Bale grazing is a common practice in North America and Canada, and involves putting bales out in the summer to feed outwintered cattle. It allows continuation of mob grazing from the warmer months, where the farmer can fence off each bale so the livestock can access one area at a time, enabling the rest of the field to recover once the herd has moved on.

The potential benefits of bale grazing have not been widely explored in the UK to date. Hoping to initiate positive change, six triallists have joined the farmer-led research project supported by Innovative Farmers and are already seeing success in proving this method as a nature-friendly and cheaper alternative to current overwintering practices.

Winter grazing usually involves feeding cattle on a “sacrificial field” of a single fodder crop like turnips or kale, which means ploughing up permanent pasture for a crop with no commercial value. What’s more, the cattle often damage the field, causing soil erosion and runoff, whereas bale grazing could return carbon and nutrients to the soil via trampled hay.

Trial co-ordinator and participant Nikki Yoxall, who farms a herd of native cattle in Aberdeenshire, said the field lab aims to investigate how these benefits can open “new welfare and commercial avenues” for farmers.

“There are farmers in the field lab who used to house cattle and are now using bale grazing as a way of outwintering, and they are already seeing cost reductions in terms of labour, fuel, machinery, and housing,” she pointed out.

“Initiatives like these put control in the hands of the farmers. Working with Innovative Farmers, we hope to show that bale grazing can have positive effects across several farm and soil types and encourage other farming communities to make positive changes.”

Boost for nature and animal welfare

As part of the project, triallists are testing the assumption that trampled hay can increase biodiversity by providing food and habitats for wildlife like earthworms, dung beetles, birds, and voles, as well as potentially boosting the yield of the permanent pasture when spring comes.

In contrast, hay and manure become waste products when cattle are being overwintered indoors. Bale grazing also provides an alternative to ploughing up permanent pasture, which often results in runoff into water catchments.

Changes to soil quality will be monitored throughout the field lab, and it is hoped bale grazing can help to avoid negative impacts on soil structure. Soil and forage samples will be taken in August 2023 and every summer until 2026.

The farmers also hope to demonstrate that bale grazing offers a low-risk solution with the housing system available as a backup, particularly if the farm still has a shed.

As overwintering indoors implies a higher risk of disease like pneumonia due to moisture levels, the animal welfare benefits of bale grazing cannot be overlooked. Cattle are known to comfortably live at -10°C without needing to warm themselves up, meaning housing often isn’t necessary.

Innovative Farmers Manager Rebecca Swinn commented: “The potential environmental benefits of the bale grazing trial cannot be overstated. Feeding manure back into the soil encourages vital insects to work over winter, increasing the health of the soil and providing food for birds and mammals.

“Results from the field lab could also have far-reaching implications for farm businesses, as less energy is lost through labour and fuel, saving money for use elsewhere on the farm.”

Case study of using cattle as a “regenerative tool”

Organic tenant farmer Silas Hedley-Lawrence manages a herd of around 300 beef and dairy store cattle on heavy clay and flood plains just outside Oxford. He has been bale grazing his cattle for four years and joined the field lab to gain specific data on what this practice is delivering for the farm.

Using this approach, he’s seen a reduction in costs of around two-thirds per head from the national average of £2.40 to just spending around £1 per animal per day.

Cattle grazing unrolled hay on the farm of Silas Hedley-Lawrence.

He said: “We farm on clay on flood plains and most people will say you can’t overwinter cattle on that. Not only are we doing it but we’re doing it as a tool to increase biodiversity and regeneration.

“The perception of what outwintering involves is so different to the reality of what we see here. We aren’t wrecking or sacrificing any fields. If it can work on our wet, heavy soils then it’s certainly an option for other farmers to use as a regenerative tool.”

Mr Hedley-Lawrence grazes his cattle in a tall grass system over the warmer months and uses bale grazing in the winter. The cattle are in a fenced off cell for a short period, usually one day, all year round.

He said while there are noticeable cost savings to this approach, farmers should also take into account the wider benefits. “It’s a holistic system where we are using the cattle as a regenerative tool to trample seeds into the ground. We don’t have to muck out sheds in spring, or reseed, or sort out any trashed fields.

“The pasture comes back each year more diverse and more productive – in May and June the area will be awash with wildflowers and herbs,” he added.

“The experiment has been great for wildlife on the farm. We’ve seen increased numbers of cattle egrets with the herd over the last two winters, and due to the additional manure dung beetles are bouncing back quite noticeably. Barn owls and hares were rarely sighted before and are now commonplace,” Mr Hedley-Lawrence concluded.

To find out more and to follow the trial, visit www.innovativefarmers.org.

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Venture Dairy Services – a family-owned dealership led by Norma Horwood – has been operating across Devon and Cornwall for over 35 years and has developed a strong relationship with dairy farmers across the region. A one-stop shop for dairy farmers, Venture offers sales, service, and maintenance for milking, slurry and feed handling equipment, as well as electrical installations. It covers everything from design and consultancy through to installation, plumbing and fabrication.

“The Horwoods did a great job of building this amazing business, and we’re very happy to continue their legacy,” says Simon Redfearn, senior director of the farm technologies division at GEA. “It’s a fantastic dealership, with about 30 employees, and we look forward to working with them to continue growing the business.”

The family links remain strong, with Tim’s brother also working for GEA, and the firm will continue operating under its existing name from its premises in Holsworthy and St Erth. “GEA works with independent dealers all over the UK, and has only one other directly-owned dealer; Dairy Flow in Scotland,” explains Mr Redfearn. “Having that direct relationship with farmers will further improve our understanding of their needs. We will also be able to offer improved internal engineer training, the strong financial backing of GEA, and the full breadth of technical services and products for our customers.”

Venture has been working with GEA from the day Norma’s husband Tim founded the business. Very sadly, he passed away two years ago, and it’s only right to continue that partnership, says Mrs Horwood. “It’s the best thing to take the business forward. Our customers are very pleased that GEA is taking over, rather than anyone else, and our staff’s jobs are safe – I wanted to make sure the business was always there,” she explains.

The business previously dealt in conventional GEA parlours, so the team is excited to be adding robotic parlours to its repertoire, adds Mrs Horwood. “At the moment I’m still helping out to ensure a smooth handover, but they are such nice people at GEA – I know the business is in safe hands.”

GEA supplies robotic and conventional milking parlours, automatic scrapers and feeders and herd management systems, as well as equipment servicing, hygiene supplies, milk cooling, manure management and milk testing. “We will be looking to grow across the South West and bring in more apprentice engineers to an industry which has been struggling to attract young people,” says Mr Redfearn. “Venture was already booked to exhibit at the Royal Cornwall Show, and we look forward to meeting customers there.”

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Highland cattle grazing on Islay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland.

Treating sheep and cattle for liver fluke at set intervals has led to overuse of treatments, increased resistance to the products left in a veterinary toolkit, and greater costs to farmers and the environment which could be mitigated through testing.

The fourth in a series of ten cases studies, featuring as part of this year’s RHASS PI, will look at how a project involving Moredun Research Institute, Elanco Animal Health, RSPB and Islay farmers has come up with a plan to boost animal welfare, reduce flukicide resistance, improve soil health and help enhance local wildlife populations.

Monthly monitoring of blood and faecal samples from a select group of animals revealed that the timing of liver fluke infection has changed, in part due to changing weather patterns. Nonetheless, many farmers are still prophylactically treating their livestock with flukicides, often unnecessarily.

This practice is not only leading to increased resistance to the remaining products effective against liver fluke, but is also causing chemicals to leach into surrounding soil and dung, potentially impacting wildlife.

One farmer involved in the study, Stuart Lamont, had been routinely treating sheep on his farm, but since testing showed very low levels of fluke in the summer and autumn, he was advised not to treat until January. Seeing the benefits, he has since switched to a testing over treating programme.

“By listening to the science, we have been able to make informed decisions about when to treat our livestock, which has led to benefits for animal welfare, as well as significant chemical savings,” he said.

“I’m now not having to unnecessarily handle my sheep to run them through a race every six weeks and by treating more sparingly, it means the products are more likely to work when we need to use them.”

Moredun Parasitologist, Philip Skuce, added that there is a careful balance to be struck between responsible treatment and conserving biodiversity on farm.

“On Islay, we were looking at how we could ensure optimal treatment for livestock whilst also addressing issues around product resistance, improving soil health, and supporting local wildlife,” he said, highlighting the important role science plays in providing evidence that a practice is safe for farmers to do.

“There is increasing pressure on the agricultural industry to reduce chemical usage and the most simple and effective way to do this is to ‘test, don’t guess’ and with patterns of parasite epidemiology shifting, more than ever scientists need to be monitoring these changes and bringing farmers along with us,” he stressed.

Commenting on the work, RHASS President Ian Duncan-Miller said: “The application of science to an everyday problem on Islay has shown a quite remarkable breadth and diversity of gains, and shows how really understanding the long-standing challenges will lead to benefits across the board.

“On a wildlife reserve, the priority is obviously the naturally occurring creatures, and this research has demonstrated the importance of science around the grazing livestock to the plants and other animals.”

For more information on this year’s initiative and to access past and future case studies, visit: https://rhass.org.uk/presidential-initiative/https://rhass.org.uk/presidential-initiative/

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Botulism was confirmed to be the most likely cause of mass cattle death at Woodlands Farm in Jersey after notifiable diseases were ruled out. The cattle died in a span of just four days on 19^th December 2022, with livestock in a separate part of the herd being unaffected.

Although government-commissioned tests have found no toxins present in the cattle feed, toxin-producing bacteria were cultured from samples.

Jersey chief veterinary officer Susana Ramos said: “Botulism has been our main working theory throughout. It’s characterised by progressive muscle weakness. Cattle are extremely sensitive to the toxin, and in most cases it is fatal.

“Despite no toxin being found, there was the presence of bacterial spores, and we believe that these results, coupled with the exclusion of notifiable diseases, and the signs reported at the time at the farm, all combine to suggest botulism as the most likely cause of death.”

As the disease is notoriously hard to test for, diagnosis is often based on clinical signs and ruling out other possible causes, and a conclusive laboratory result is often not achievable, Ms Ramos added.

Shortly after the tragic event, 33,000 litres of milk collected from across the Island and stored at Jersey Dairy – including milk from the affected farm – were disposed of as a precaution. However, in light of the recent laboratory results, Natural Environment director Willie Peggie said there is no further risk to animals or public health.

RH&W has previously warned against the dangers of botulism, especially if poultry litter has been used as fertiliser on grass crops.

Explaining the risk, RH&W chairman Nigel Miller said: “Deep litter in poultry sheds may be contaminated by bird carcases or fragments of dead birds.

“This material has the potential to carry botulinum toxin – a toxin which impacts on muscle function and can cause mortality in animals that graze contaminated grass or silage.”

Mr Miller urged farmers who suspect botulism has entered their herd or flock to speak to their vet without delay. Suspected contaminated livestock should also be isolated from the main group and contained in alternative housing or grazing as soon as possible, he stressed.

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According to Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W), the presence of mycoplasma, in combination with other bacteria or viruses, is linked to respiratory problems in cattle such as Bovine Respiratory Disease. It can also lead to mastitis, arthritis and swollen legs in heifers ahead of calving.

Therefore, it is important that mycoplasma is included in the serological investigation when screening cattle before turnout or when groups of calves are tested for BVD in beef herds. Recent data has shown that mycoplasma continues to be vastly spread across the UK, however, many herds are remaining mycoplasma free.

RH&W chairman Nigel Miller urged farmers to find out the mycoplasma status of their herd to understand potential risks and plan disease management accordingly.

“We must also remember that, although we often experience coughing in housed calves and feeding cattle, it isn’t inevitable. Even if clinical pneumonia is avoided, coughs signal the loss of performance in the herd,” he cautioned.

Mycoplasmas are very small bacteria that belong to the class Mollicutes, meaning soft skin. Mycoplasma bovis is of the most concern to farmers due to its defence mechanisms which make it difficult to treat, Mr Miller added.

“Mycoplasma bovis lacks a cell wall so some widely used antibiotics are not effective in treating it,” he explained.

“The bacteria also has the ability to change its surface proteins to evade the cow’s immune response, while an ability to produce a sugar matrix biofilm means it can temporarily hide from both the immune system and antibiotics.

“Dairy beef systems are particularly at risk due to a combination of factors including calves receiving sub-optimal passive immunity, the mixing of calves from herds of different mycoplasma status, and instances of poor hygiene in calf rearing units,” Mr Miller noted.

The past 10 years have seen a rise in the laboratory diagnostic rates for Mycoplasma bovis, with vets also seeing an increase on-farm in a range of clinical problems caused by the bacteria. The greater risk of mycoplasma infection highlights the need for farmers to work with their vets to identify their herd’s mycoplasma status.

RH&W steering group member and CHeCS veterinary director Keith Cutler says a whole herd approach to health management is needed to minimise the mycoplasma risk.

“Although the use of vaccines can play a positive role, farmers need to look at all aspects of health management with their vet, including the environment, hygiene, immunity, monitoring and management of infection pressures.”

He also recommends farmers should consider the mycoplasma status of herds they are buying stock from, as brought-in cows or heifers infected with the bacteria carry a high risk of infecting a disease-free herd.

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Stock photo for illustration purposes only.

The funding will support projects developing robotic crop harvesting for horticulture, an autonomous system to change cows’ bedding to improve their health, welfare and productivity, and an environmentally-friendly approach to potato cultivation.

The three winning projects have been awarded grants through the Large R&D Partnership competition, part of the government’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme, a second round of which is currently open for applications.

The Farming Innovation Programme is part of the government’s commitment to spend around £600 million on grants to provide support for farmers to invest in productivity, animal health and welfare, innovation, research and development over three years. Funding for the programme is provided from the £2.4 billion annual farming budget.

Alongside the ongoing roll-out of the Environmental Land Management schemes, the grants will help deliver long-term sustainable food production and support farmers to halt and reverse the decline of nature as set out in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “It’s important that we fund projects like these – and those still to come in future rounds – as we support farmers to deliver sustainable food production and protect the environment.”

Meanwhile, Katrina Hayter, Interim Executive Director Healthy Living & Agriculture, Innovate UK, commented:

“These projects have all demonstrated not only an innovative solution to a real-life, on-farm problem, but also the value of partnerships and collaboration between different sector experts. For novel technology to truly succeed, it needs the input of the farmers themselves for the day-to-day realities of its use.”

“We’re really pleased that these partnerships have this idea at their core, and we now look forward to working with them as they develop their solutions further and bring the benefits to life.”

Successful projects offer innovative solutions to practical problems

With labour shortages affecting the horticulture sector around the world, automation offers huge opportunities to reduce costs and labour requirements. Led by APS Produce, the Agri-Opencore project has been awarded over £3.8m to accelerate the delivery of robotic crop systems for horticulture.

The funding will help the project create the world’s first open development platform (software and hardware) for agri-robotic crop harvesting.

The open development platform will enable multiple organisations to contribute, allowing cross-sector collaboration and demonstration of technologies on English farms. It is hoped that the project will help accelerate the adoption of robotic picking by two years.

APS Produce head grower Phil Pearson said: “The Agri-Opencore robotics project is an exciting and vital project for the fresh produce industry. It promises to deliver the significant progress required to automate fresh produce harvesting in the UK.

“As this work brings leading technology providers, Dogtooth, Xihelm and Wootzano, with the academic excellence of the University of Lincoln team, we can expect significant progress towards autonomous harvesting,” he added.

Aimed at the development of an autonomous cow cubicle bedding unit, the AG ARC project, led by Garnett Farm Engineering, has been awarded over £2.5m in funding.

Careful cubicle management and keeping the bedding dry and clean is vital to cow comfort, which is a key factor in reducing the risk of mastitis.

The project aims to reduce the need for manual labour by developing an intelligent robotic cubicle bedder to monitor and respond to key sensor data to optimise dispensing of bedding. This will help to boost cow health and welfare, improve farm productivity and reduce costs through efficient use of bedding.

Andrew Garnett, director at AG Products, said: “We look forward to collaborating with the University of Liverpool on this exciting project to further enhance our cattle bedding solutions to farmers, improving cow welfare and productivity.

“Our passion for innovation has seen the recent launch of the AG Duo; the AG ARC will further revolutionise the industry’s approach to cattle bedding.”

The third project to be awarded funding, Potato-LITE, is set to explore optimised systems for potato cultivation. Current systems require the soil to be cultivated to create a deep and uniform seedbed, free from stones and clods, to provide a favourable environment for potato growth.

Whilst reduced tillage technologies have enabled regenerative agriculture in cereal systems, this technology has not been developed for the production of potatoes and other root crops.

Having received funding of £2.83m, Potato-LITE will transform potato tillage through developing new cultivation equipment and systems, delivered through a leading partnership between food manufacturers (PepsiCo and McCain), a machinery manufacturer (Grimme), growers (Strawson Ltd, JRO Griffiths, H Sutton & Son and JM Bubb & Son) and research organisations (Cranfield University, Harper Adams University and CHAP).

To apply for round two of the Large R&D Partnerships competition, visit the government website here.

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