Bio-gas and free range egg enterprises will be two of the main features within Diversifarm, the exhibition covering a comprehensive range of farm diversification activities to be held at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, to be staged at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 17 and 18 September by its organisers the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
Diversifarm, which is once again being jointly staged by RABDF and sponsors, the Country Land and Business Association, will provide information on opportunities for biogas production from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the potential income from free range egg enterprises, as well as covering a broad spectrum of farm diversification activities. Advice and support will be available to enable farmers to find out how to exploit their existing farm assets, such as redundant farm buildings or an area of land to create a new income stream and boost revenue from non-food enterprises.
“The incentives for a farm biogas installation based on anaerobic digestion have never been greater,” says CLA director North, Douglas Chalmers. “The power generated can meet farmers’ own high requirements and equally important any surplus can be sold for export into the National Grid. The operation reduces slurry handling and waste management requirements, while the remaining digestate can be used as a nutrient rich bio-fertiliser and replace increasingly expensive nitrogen based fertiliser.”
The second major initiative will examine the option of free range egg production. With the market currently growing at 8% per year, a free range layer enterprise offers an attractive alternative for dairy farmers providing regular monthly income from existing grassland. For example, a 12,000 bird unit can generate more than sufficient income to support an additional person on the farm.
RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington adds: “Diversifarm is once again being staged in response to dairy producer’s intentions. Market research carried out at the previous Dairy Event found that 27% of farmer visitors had already diversified in to areas such as tourism, sports facilities, processing, retailing and office /industrial lets, however more than 34% were planning to do so in future. Diversifarm is designed to offer visitors the chance to examine their existing enterprises, understand the marketplace, determine how they can exploit their resources and then make informed business decisions.”