From an organic smallholding in Aberystwyth to vast cattle stations in Australia, it has been an exciting journey that has led to Emily Martin’s current role as depot manager and agricultural trade manager at Wynnstay’s Cardigan store.

Emily had a great head-start and gained a broad experience from a small but diverse family farm operation. “Growing up I enjoyed spending time on the family farm and from there, I have always had a passion for animals and their welfare,” she says.

“I then had the opportunity to travel to Australia and get a different perspective. Over five years, I worked on cattle stations, starting with a 25,000 head station on a 1.8-million-acre property,” she adds.

Later joining travelling contractors, Emily was sleeping in swags under the stars as she travelled from farm-to-farm, mustering cattle by horse, bike or chopper.

“It was all really hands-on, getting involved in everything from processing, cattle-dehorning, castrating, branding, hormone implanting, trucking, and even building yards!”

With all that experience behind her, Emily returned to her Welsh roots and joined the Wynnstay team at the Cardigan store in February 2018, where her role sees her managing the general running of the unit, while her AMTRA RAMA qualification means no two days are the same.

“In my role as a RAMA, it is extremely important to keep updated with new advice, as animal medicines and the animal health industry is always evolving,” says Emily.

“It helps us ask the right questions and take the time to listen to the answers, so we can make the right prescription or provide the best advice. This also means utilising the expertise and experience of our colleagues, and taking the time to get the right answer,” she adds.

In particular, Emily is keen to highlight the range of test services available to clients, taking the guesswork out of animal health and treatments, as well as wider farm management activities.

“We provide everything from Faecal Egg Count (FEC) tests, bulk milk tank tests, feed and silage analysis, soil testing and more. We take a partnership approach with our specialists and customers, formulating plans to best suit individual farm requirements,” she says.

Indeed, as we head into the early Spring period, Emily will be taking these skills and looking ahead to premeditate potential coccidiosis issues, while also closely monitoring Nematodirus forecasts and updates.

“We want to control the Spring rise in Nematodirus by staying one step ahead, and likewise, prevention is better than cure, both to the animal and the pocket, when considering early fly control,” she says.

It is also a busy time of year planning and preparing for Spring turnout, providing advice and guidance on everything from feeds and fertiliser, lambing sheds and calf ventilation, to vaccines and other turnout treatments and more.

There is always a challenge, and working with animals can be an emotive task, but Emily is determined to utilise her training, expertise and experience to deliver the best results.

“Sometimes the price tag can put customers off what might be the best product at the right time, but once calculated into price per head per day it can really change things around.

“Weighed up with the benefits of the longer term, we can help our customers see the bigger picture, and that is not only best for animal health, but also farm productivity and profitability,” she concludes.

You can contact Emily at the Cardigan store on 01239 810083 or [email protected]