DAIRY farmer Malcolm Fewster is available to mentor grassland farmers in Yorkshire and the North-East, as part of the British Grassland Society (BGS) Grazing Mentors initiative. Funded by the Prince’s Countryside Fund, it offers free one-to-one support for livestock producers in any sector.

Mr Fewster has gained experience from his time in New Zealand, as well as on his own farm in West Yorkshire. He is also a Nuffield Scholar, having researched pasture-based dairying in 2010.

About becoming a mentor, he said: “I feel I can offer a viewpoint that recognises that all farm circumstances are different.

“Grazing will always remain the kingpin in my business and I figure there are other farmers who would like to maximise profitability and resilience using grazed forage.”

Charlotte Evans, BGS technical project manager, said many farmers were aware that they could improve their grazing, but might not be sure exactly what to do, or in what order.

“Inviting a mentor onto the farm really helps with this,” she said. “It is about helping farmers set their own targets and progress towards them, not presenting them with a template to follow.

“Increasing grazing efficiency is a win-win scenario across many aspects of farming.”

Visit britishgrassland.com/page/grazing-mentors or call Charlotte Evans on 07833 437974.