SAC Consulting has won £50,000 of funding from the Prince’s Countryside Fund for a two-year project to help Yorkshire Dales farmers get the most from their businesses.
The Yorkshire Dales has some of the most diverse farm land in the UK and local upland livestock farms face significant financial, environmental, legislative and logistical pressures.
SAC Consulting’s new Dales Farming Group, a two-year initiative being launched this Autumn, will aim to help local farmers maximise their income by encouraging them to take stock of their business and supporting them in their decision making.
The project will provide 15 farms with detailed business reviews, looking at both financial and technical performance to help them find a position of stability and sustainability.
Interested farmers are being encouraged attend a launch meeting in Hawes this Autumn, details of which will be advertised shortly. This meeting will have a technical focus but will also provide farmers with an opportunity to learn more about the project and, if interested, sign up for a business review.
There will also be a number of drop-in clinics and open group events during the project to discuss the benchmark data from the group and look at new ideas and concepts such as using Electronic Identification Data (EID) for flock and herd management.
The project will be delivered from SAC Consulting’s Cumbria office at Kendal Auction Mart. Local Agricultural Consultant James Hadwin who will be undertaking the business reviews said: “We hope the Dales Farming Group members will gain a better understanding of the business issues they face and have ideas about moving forward in a more sustainable way. We also envisage the group will continue to meet after the project finishes, providing collaborative working opportunities and the chance to go on sharing ideas and information.”
