FARMERS URGED TO RE-REGISTER WITH FARMING CONNECT

The Farmers' Union of Wales today called on farmers to take full advantage of the knowledge, expertise, training and advisory services offered by the revamped Farming Connect programme.

The call was made by the union's agricultural education and training committee, which heard from the Farming Connect delivery manager Patrick Cowdy of the practical, accessible support that Farming Connect has to offer farmers.

The committee heard that over 1,000 farmers had registered for the new Farming Connect programme with the majority of those pin-pointing the variety of subsidised training courses it had to offer as their main reason for registering.

Since its introduction in 2001 Farming Connect has helped more than 7,000 farmers to maximise their potential and improve the sustainability of their businesses.

But an FUW survey carried out at last year's Royal Welsh Winter Fair revealed the majority of participants (57.6%) had not registered or re-registered with the new programme. Only 32.6% had registered or re-registered and 9.8% were unsure.

Committee chairman Alun Edwards said: "It was emphasised during our meeting that farmers who had registered for the original service need to re-register for the new programme before being able to take advantage of any training courses.

"Therefore, our advice to farmers is not to leave it to the last minute before registering in order to avoid missing out on any future training courses. Only farmers who have registered under the new programme will be eligible to claim back a substantial part of the costs of any courses undertaken."

Farmers can register by phoning the Farming Connect Service Centre on 08456 000 813 to complete a registration form over the phone with a centre operator.

Following registration, the Service Centre refers farmers to a regionally based Farming Connect co-coordinator who will discuss their farm business needs with them.

Farming Connect provides:

• Knowledge transfer opportunities for farmers to keep up to date with the latest research and development, to learn from experts and share best practice through four sector-focused development programmes (red meat, organic, dairy, and land management).
• Measures to support young entrants.
• Guidance on a wide range of sector-specific topics.
• Opportunities to attend open days or farm walks, visit Farming Connect development farms and demonstration farms or join discussion groups with other farmers and experts.
• One-to-one subsidised mentoring for up to five days from specialist advisers, including help with the production of a Whole Farm Plan. Eligible farmers can claim back a substantial part of the costs - 50% for most farmers, 80% for young entrants.