CLA Cymru joined David Morgan MBE at Trostrey Court, Usk this week for a tour of the site, celebrating the fantastic work that he has undertaken over 54 years in the farming industry.

Mr Morgan was President of the Royal Welsh Show for 2015 and was honoured earlier this year with an MBE for services to Agriculture. Although not originally from a farming background, Mr Morgan took over Trostrey Court in 1961 at the age of 19 following the untimely death of his father.

He showed CLA Cymru members the evolution of the family farm by giving a guided walk and then a farm tour on a double decker bus, explaining how the farm has met challenge after challenge through diversification.

The tour included a look at the impressive biomass generating system installed on the farm, which uses waste wood chip to produce electricity into the Grid. Waste heat is used to dry cow slurry and provide heat for the poultry unit, whilst waste material from the gas cleaning is formed into briquettes to be sold for heating.

CLA Cymru Director Rebecca Williams said, “Modern farming’s ever-changing economic picture has brought the viability of diversification projects into the spotlight. For many, they are already integral parts of their business structures.

“Visiting farms such as Mr Morgan’s offers a fantastic opportunity to see how a traditional dairy farm has changed over the years to a farm which still has dairy at its core but with the diversity to ensure it continues to thrive.”

Mr Morgan said, “At a time when a lot of dairy farmers are struggling to stay afloat, it is important to champion the industry but also to celebrate other ventures which can ensure that the success of a farm continues.”

CLA Cymru thanks Hugh James Solicitors for sponsoring this event.