Free Support Offered To Help Farmers In The Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network was formed in 2010 with a mission to support Farming Communities across the Dales “whatever the challenge, whatever the opportunity”. The Network prides itself on giving farmers up to date industry information to ensure that they can make informed business decisions going forward. This has never been as important as the industry now transitions away from the Common Agricultural Policies of old, to new support schemes include Environmental Land Management and Stewardship

Now the not-for-profit, farmer support organisation is recruiting farmers for new Farm for the Future groups that will meet from October through to December 2024.

The programme, which is funded by Defra, includes a series of workshops and one to one advice to help farmers understand the changes to support schemes and consider future options for their businesses.

This autumn, the Farmer Network will be coordinating groups at Sedbergh in the western Yorkshire Dales and at Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. Information evenings are being held on:

Monday 29th July at Sedbergh Peoples Hall, LA10 5DQ
Thursday 1st August at Pateley Bridge auction mart.

Both meetings will start at 7pm and include a presentation from the Farmer Network’s, Veronica Waller, on grant schemes including an update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) as well as information about the Farm for the Future programme. Farmers don’t need to sign up to the programme to attend these meetings and food is provided. To book, farmers should call 01768 868615, or email: admin@thefarmernetwork.co.uk.

Veronica Waller, the Farmer Network’s Senior project manager said:
“We try to recruit around 20 to 25 farm businesses for each group within a 30 minute drive of the workshop locations. The programme is designed to help farmers and their families come together with other farmers from their local community to understand what the changes mean for their businesses and benefit from their shared experience.

“I will be giving an update about SFI 2024 at these information evenings and this will also be covered at the Farm for the Future environment workshop for those that sign up to the programme. It is so important that farmers are given the opportunity to understand these new schemes with the Basic Payment Scheme being at least halved in 2024.”