A Crymych farmer has gained a HCC Livestock Scholarship to travel to the other side of the world.

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) announced the winners of this year’s HCC Livestock Scholarship during a reception at the Royal Welsh Show on Wednesday.

The three individuals awarded a scholarship are Carwyn James of Crymych, James Powell, Carwyn James and Eleri Price.

Each year HCC offers scholarships to people working in the Welsh red meat industry to travel abroad in search of techniques and practices used in the production of lamb, beef or pork that could be adapted to the benefit of producers and processors in Wales.

Supported and funded by HCC, the successful candidates will spend four to six weeks at their chosen destination, studying a range of interesting topics.

Carwyn James is a sheep and beef farmer. As a young farmer and new entrant to the sector, he has chosen to look at the potential of share or contract farming. Carwyn is keen to investigate whether there is scope to emulate the successful implementation of schemes for new entrants to the dairy sector in the sheep and beef sectors. He will investigate examples of collaborative farming businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

Originally from Brecon, sheep farmer’s daughter Eleri Price is currently completing her PhD thesis at Aberystwyth University.

A sheep and beef farmer from Llanbadarn Fynydd, James Powell will travel to New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland to investigate the use of marginal land on the farm.

Lynfa Davies, HCC’s Technical Development Executive said: “The standard of the applications was very high again this year and some very interesting ideas were presented to the panel.

“James, Carwyn and Eleri displayed a thorough understanding of the industry and we admired their enthusiasm and desire to develop their own businesses and projects. I am sure that they will return from their travels with findings that will also benefit the sector in Wales as a whole.”