Free business workshops aim to help farmers cope with volatility

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is funding a series of six farm business planning workshops to help beef and sheep farmers face the challenges of reduced support payments and fluctuating beef and lamb prices.

The aim of the workshops, which are free to attend, is to enhance the business planning skills of Scottish livestock producers to allow them to make better decisions on how to improve their farms’ performance and profitability.

They are an opportunity for farmers to set aside a bit of time to look at how they might mitigate the impact of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) reductions, boost margins and determine future farm policy.

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The workshops will be delivered by SAC Consulting (part of Scotland’s Rural College) and are aimed at providing farmers with the tools to analyse the performance of their cattle and sheep enterprises.

They will also identify areas where farmers can improve and undertake forward planning to help their business face future challenges.
 
There are just 12 spaces available for each workshop and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. All farmers are eligible to attend, other than those who have already attended a Planning for Profit 2015 two-day winter workshop.

Where and when

• Wednesday, 10 February – The Green Hotel, Kinross
• Wednesday, 10 February – Elphinstone Hotel, Biggar
• Wednesday, 17 February – Thainstone Centre, Inverurie
• Thursday, 18 February – Green Valley Golf Centre, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer
• Wednesday, 24 February – Jurys Inn, Inverness
• Tuesday, 1 March – The Lodge Hotel, Carfraemill, Lauder

All meetings begin at 10am and finish about 4pm with lunch provided.

For more information about these workshops visit the QMS website.