Eight Welsh beef and sheep farms are taking part in a new national pilot project aimed at measuring the environmental impact of red meat production, with farmers from Brecon and Llandrindod Wells among those involved.

The Environment Baselining Pilot brings together 170 farms across England, Scotland and Wales in a collaboration led by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), with support from Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

In Wales, eight farms have been selected to reflect different landscapes, soil types and farming systems. They include Keri and Julie Davies, who farm near Brecon, and Stephen and Lisa Harwick, based near Llandrindod Wells.

The project aims to build a clearer picture of agriculture’s environmental footprint, from greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon levels to biodiversity and landscape management.

Work on the participating farms is already under way, including soil sampling to depths of up to one metre, LiDAR scanning to assess land structure, and carbon auditing. Each farm will receive a tailored action plan based on the results.

HCC’s Dr Eleri Thomas, Industry Efficiency and Sustainability Executive, said: “We are pleased to support this exciting pilot and support red meat producers as they take bold steps to baseline and better understand the environmental impact of their businesses.

“The work is intended to provide the industry with a national dataset, showing the range and variety of results from individual farms and enabling a move away from national and international averages. The data will help to demonstrate the real environmental benefits of the agricultural industry and provide a more accurate reflection of its position and progress towards Net Zero.

“To ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the Welsh red meat industry, it is imperative to balance economic performance and environmental stewardship.”