Applied farm demonstrations and trials provide opportunity for management practices to be developed, refining systems to ensure that they are practical and that they work in a real time application. They are also essential for spreading the word, for demonstrating best practise and for showing how and why new technology is important to the wider farming community.

Whilst there are some regionally funded schemes for farm demonstration in Scotland and Wales, there is little Government money for this activity in England. Industry needs to take up that slack in England and to enhance the offering in Scotland and Wales. Germinal sees filling this important gap with sound and practical work an essential part of their plan to work with farmers to improve systems and profitability. Uptake of new products and the development of existing products, is essential if we are to meet the goals of sustainable meat and milk production, keeping farms profitable, reducing our environmental footprint, maintaining and improving animal welfare and helping to keep the human population healthy and fit.

Germinal have staff dedicated to this essential element and have set up demonstration trials on dairy, beef and sheep farms throughout the country, with partners from the farming industry, food processors and retailers, AHDB and research bodies.

Dissemination of this information is of vital importance and Germinal staff present this data at farmer meetings and on farm walks. In addition, the information is broadcast to a wider audience in the Forager magazine, a dedicated grass and forage publication distributed to livestock farmers in the UK.