Ear to the Ground / Clust i'r Ddaear

This episode has been recorded with Farming Connect Specialist Officers, Lynfa Davies and Geraint Jones. They explore what invasive non‑native species are and why they matter, particularly in woodland and farm environments. We explain how these plants, animals, and pathogens—often introduced through human activity—can spread rapidly, outcompete native species, and disrupt entire ecosystems. From t...

In this episode of Ear to the Ground, host Ifan Jones Evans visits Wallog, a coastal sheep farm perched on the rugged Cardigan coastline near Clarach, Ceredigion. Wallog has long faced the challenge of ensuring a reliable drinking-water supply for its flock of outdoor-lambing ewes, relying on an ageing system of seasonal springs, wells and reservoir tanks in one of Wales' lowest rainfall areas. Wi...

Listen to find out why more and more farmers are planting trees for the sake of their stock , their soil, and their bottom line.   Agroforestry is one of the most exciting and fast‑growing areas of sustainable farming, and in this episode, we're breaking it down to what really matters, cutting through the jargon and get right to the practical stuff:  how to plan design agroforestry systems that wo...

Farmers know their land better than anyone — but keeping track of the wildlife that visits their farms can be a challenge. Traditional bird surveys require time and specialist knowledge, so a new project is turning to innovative, AI‑powered technology to help.   In this episode, we explore how Chirrup acoustic monitors are being used across fourteen farms in Wales to automatically capture and iden...

Welcome to another chance to catch up on a Farming Connect webinar recorded in November 2025. In this episode, we're joined by Ian Jones, MRCVS, Director of Hafren Veterinary Group, for an important update on Avian Influenza and practical biosecurity measures. Ian also shares insights on achieving optimum poultry shed lighting, and we'll hear of a successful project at Glanalders where traditional...

Join the specialists from the Farming Connect team as they pull back the curtain on the crucial baseline studies conducted within the Our Farms Network. In this episode, we dive into the data collection process and the practical application of assessments focused on woodland management, biodiversity enhancement, and on-farm carbon footprints. The team discusses how these detailed studies identify...

Welcome to the third episode in our special series on profitable and productive farming in Wales! Host Ifan Jones Evans is joined by leading independent plant and soil health educator, Joel Williams, to dive into the most vital resource on your farm: your soil.                                                                                                                                          ...

Welcome to another episode of the Farming Connect Ear to the Ground podcast. We are staying on the topic of soil health for this episode as we were keen to expand on the foundations and principles heard in our latest podcast with Joel Williams, do go back to listen to that episode if you haven't yet had an opportunity. Today, we ' re talking to a farmer whose journey proves that sometimes, the dri...

Welcome to "Sustainable Dairy Farming," where we explore the evolving world of energy and technology in dairy farming. This two-part episode was recorded at the recent Farming Connect Roadshow in Pant Farm, Llanddewi, Ceredigion. Cennydd talks to Eirinn Rusbridge from NFU Energy to explore how Welsh farms are turning towards renewable energy to power their work, and also reduce emissions. Discover...

Welcome to "Sustainable Dairy Farming," where we explore the evolving world of energy and technology in dairy farming. This two-part episode was recorded at the recent Farming Connect Roadshow in Pant Farm, Llanddewi, Ceredigion. Host Cennydd Jones takes the time following the event to chat with Conor Hogan of Teagasc Moorepark, whose research focuses on labour productivity, efficiency, and innova...

Welcome to a focused discussion on sustainable agriculture and technological integration.  W e revisit key insights from our recent webinar featuring Jonathan Sandercock of NFU Energy. We'll examine the strategies for navigating the current energy landscape, emphasising practical solutions and analysing the return on investment required to ensure a profitable future for your business. Additionally...

Ymunwch ag Ifan Jones Evans ar gyfer yr ail bennod yn ein cyfres arbennig ar ffermio proffidiol a chynhyrchiol yng Nghymru. Y tro hwn, rydym yn edrych yn fanwl ar systemau ffermio sy'n seiliedig ar laswellt. Mae Ifan yn teithio i Moelogan, Llanrwst, i gwrdd â Llion a Sian Jones. Mae'r pâr arloesol ar genhadaeth i greu fferm ucheldir broffidiol gan ddefnyddio system sy'n seiliedig ar borfa, gan wth...

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer lansiad cyfres newydd arbennig sy'n ymroddedig i ffermio proffidiol a chynhyrchiol yng Nghymru, a gyflwynir gan Ifan Jones Evans. Yn y bennod agoriadol hon, rydym yn edrych yn fanwl ar gymryd rheolaeth o gyllid eich fferm er mwyn gwneud penderfyniadau mwy craff. Ymunwn ag Aled Evans o Rest Farm, derbynnydd Gwobr Ffermwr Cig Eidion y Flwyddyn y Farmers Weekly. Cymerodd Aled, s...

Join us for the launch of a special new series dedicated to profitable and productive farming in Wales, presented by Ifan Jones Evans. In this inaugural episode, we're diving deep into taking control of your farm's finances for smarter decision-making. We're joined by Aled Evans of Rest Farm, a recipient of the prestigious Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year Award. Aled, who farms in partnershi...

Mae Joe Angell yn filfeddyg o Ogledd Cymru sydd â dull rhagweithiol o wella iechyd a pherfformiad da byw. Dyma gyfle i glywed am y cysyniad 'TST' a pham mae'n ddull pwysig o rheoli parasitiaid mewn defaid.

North Wales vet Joe Angell is a livestock vet that has a proactive approach to improving the health and performance of our livestock here in Wales. This is an opportunity to hear about the concept of TST and why It's important to optimise parasite control in sheep.

Cyfle arall i wrando yn ôl ar Sam Boon o AHDB, Uwch Reolwr Bridio Anifeiliaid gyda Signet AHDB yn siarad mewn digwyddiad Geneteg Defaid Cymreig yn ddiweddar ar Stad Rhug, Corwen. Mae Sam yn rhannu ei arbenigedd mewn cynhyrchu defaid, geneteg, dadansoddi data a chyfnewid gwybodaeth.

Another opportunity to listen back to AHDB's Sam Boon a Senior Animal Breeding Manager at AHDB Signet speaking at a recent Welsh Sheep Genetics event at Rhug Estate, Corwen. Sam shares his expertise in sheep production, genetics, data analysis and knowledge exchange. 

Ever wondered how a nursery in Wales became a major exporter of garden plants across the UK and Europe? Join guest presenter Neville Stein as he visits Seiont Nurseries in Caernarfon. Learn the secrets behind their success, from their establishment in 1978 to their impressive annual production of over a million plugs and liners, specializing in exciting new varieties. Discover how they partner wit...

Ydych chi erioed wedi meddwl sut y daeth meithrinfa yng Nghymru yn allforiwr mawr o blanhigion gardd ar draws y DU ac Ewrop? Ymunwch â'r cyflwynydd gwadd Neville Stein wrth iddo ymweld â Meithrinfeydd Seiont yng Nghaernarfon. Dysgwch y cyfrinachau y tu ôl i'w llwyddiant, o'u sefydlu ym 1978 i'w cynhyrchiad blynyddol trawiadol o dros filiwn o blygiau a leinin, gan arbenigo mewn mathau newydd cyffro...

A unique opportunity to visit the Rhug Estate and learn more about the major change in its large-scale sheep flock as a result of advice and support received through the Welsh Sheep Genetic Programme. We will hear first hand the significant role technology is playing, providing data to help manage breeding decisions while allowing the farm to primarily lamb outdoors, keep a closed flock and breed...

Cyfle unigryw i ymweld ag Ystâd Rhug ac i ddysgu mwy am y newid mawr yn y ddiadell ddefaid yn sgil y cyngor a chymorth a gafwyd drwy'r Rhaglen Geneteg Defaid Cymru. Byddwn yn clywed yn uniongyrchol am y rhan arwyddocaol technoleg, gan ddarparu data i helpu i reoli penderfyniadau'n ymwneud â bridio wrth ganiatáu i'r fferm ŵyna'n bennaf yn yr awyr agored, gan gadw diadell gaeedig ac felly bridio def...

A yw cloffni yn broblem ar eich fferm laeth? Er gwaethaf degawdau o ymdrech, mae cloffni yn parhau i fod yn hêr i ffermwyr llaeth. Mae'r podlediad hwn yn archwilio prosiect arloesol Partneriaeth Arloesedd Ewropeaidd (EIP) Cymru sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn yn uniongyrchol. Ymunwch â ni wrth i ni edrych yn fanwl ar ymyriadau ymarferol, a darganfod sut mae ffermwyr llaeth Cymru yn cydweithio i...

Is lameness a problem on your dairy farm?  Despite decades of effort, lameness remains a challenge for dairy farmers. This podcast explores a ground-breaking European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Wales project that tackles this issue head-on. Join us as we delve into practical interventions, and discover how Welsh dairy farmers are working together to improve lameness records. This podcast is pres...

Welcome to 'The Welsh Walnut Experiment,' where we explore the potential of growing nuts in Wales. In this episode, we meet Martyn Williams from Carmarthenshire that has venturing into the world of tree nut production. With the support of Farming Connect's Try Out Fund, he has planting walnut and sweet chestnut trees on his land, hoping to unlock a new source of income and contribute to a more sus...