A new project to research new varieties of peas is hoping that it will reduce the UK’s reliance on imported soya.

The £1 million project is being run by grass and forage seed specialists and breeders, Germinal in collaboration with IBERS at Aberystwyth University. The programme is part-funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Pathway via Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation.

Part of the research will involve developing flavourless pea varieties in order for pea protein to be used in human food to replace soya. Over 3 million tonnes of Soya was imported in 2022 for use in animal and human foods.

Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) Four Rivers for LIFE project is working with the Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) based at the Gelli Aur Campus near Llandeilo to install Weather Stations on farms within the Cleddau river catchment.

 The new stations follow a trial of 10 weather stations, six in the river Tywi catchment as part of the SMS Supporting Natura 2000 Restoration project and four funded by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water within the river Usk and river Wye catchments.

 The weather stations provide real time data on soil moisture, soil temperature and leaf moisture which are key to grass growth and the appropriateness of nutrient and chemical application.

The UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy was launched on 6th June facilitated by the Ruminant Health & Welfare Group and supported by a host of industry leaders and organisations across the whole supply chain.

 A new UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy for 2023-2028 has been created and is designed to help the industry show progress in animal welfare by 2028.

The six strategic goals in the strategy are:

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) are reminding keepers of livestock and poultry of the risks to animal welfare posed by the prolonged dry weather.

 APHA are highlighting the key actions that can be taken to minimise the effects of thermal stress due to hot weather. 

Some of the key actions include, but are not limited to:-