Farmers urged to register for training before deadline

The Farmers' Union of Wales is urging farmers to ensure they make the most of the funding available for training under the current Rural Development Plan before it closes to new applications on Friday of next week (November 28).

"Whilst the training itself can be undertaken up to March 2015, farmers must ensure they have applied before the November deadline to take advantage of the 80 per cent funding rate," said chairman of the union's agricultural education and training committee Alun Edwards.

Farmers are also being reminded that "Grandfather Rights" for pesticide spraying will come to an end on 26 November 2015.

"So those born before 31 December 1964 and have not already registered to undertake their Certificate of Competence shouldn’t wait until spraying time to take advantage of the funding available under this Rural Development Plan because we do not yet know how training is likely to be funded under the next programme," said Mr Edwards.