VOLUNTEERS are being sought to lead Northern Ireland's transition to environmentally-friendly farming.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is opening the application window seeking farmers willing to host visits and showcase the use of innovative technologies.

Early adopters of new methods and hardware play an important role in convincing their peers to take more innovative approaches, so DAERA is creating a network of Technology Demonstration Farms to play that role in the province.

The plan is to appoint six new farmers specifically to demonstrate environmental technologies – these must be people who enjoy welcoming other farmers onto their farm and can tell their story of how they have introduced new technologies and management practices into their business.

Farms will be selected under two themes – 'Farm Habitat Creation' and 'Management and Efficient Sustainability'. Farmers are eligible to apply for more than one theme but can only be appointed under one theme.

Within each theme there is a list of proven technologies which should currently be used on the farm. Three farms are being sought for each theme with appointments being made on a competitive basis. Those farmers who meet the eligibility criteria, and are short-listed, will be assessed by a panel during a visit to their farm.

Selected farms will be expected to host between eight and twelve visits for groups of between five and twenty five farmers. CAFRE Technologists and scheme support staff will help the farmer prepare to host visits and at each visit a support assistant will be available to help them with arrangements. All bookings will be made through CAFRE.

Technology Demonstration Farms will receive a hosting payment of £600 for each visit. In addition, CAFRE will support TDFs by analysing the performance of their technology, providing appropriate diagnostic testing and arranging, where appropriate, for specialists, to visit and speak on their farm.

It should also be noted that if a herd does not have Officially Tuberculosis Free status, the farm can still apply to be a TDF. Visits can be held remotely via a video conferencing application should either TB status or Covid restrictions prevent an on-farm meeting.

Farmers who are interested in becoming a Technology Demonstration Farm can find out more details about the scheme and complete an online application at: https://www.cafre.ac.uk/business-support/rural-development-programmes/technology-demonstration-farms/

Applications will open on Wednesday April 7 and close at 4.00pm on Friday April 30.