Less than a month left to apply for dairy masterclasses

Dairy farmers have until the end of August to apply to attend a series of dairy business management masterclasses being held across the UK.

The Entrepreneurs in Dairying training programme is organised jointly by RABDF, AHDB Dairy, consultancy firm Andersons and the NFU and is now in its fifth year.

The courses consist of eight sessions spread over a number of weeks covering topics such as staff management and communication, finance and forecasting, business plans, contracts and price management.

See also: 4 young farmers on setting up successful joint dairy ventures

Applicants will have the opportunity to study at the nearest of four colleges – Bridgwater in Somerset, Gelli Aur in Carmarthen, Reaseheath in Cheshire and SRUC Royal Crichton Farm in Dumfries – for the first seven sessions, before joining together for a final day at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

The programme has been credited in the past with providing an opportunity for like-minded farmers to establish connections which have later provided them with business opportunities such as joint ventures and tenancies.

Sessions run over a number of weeks between the third week of September and the middle of December, with particular attention being paid to finance, which will be a two-day course in October run by Andersons’ senior farm business consultant Tony Evans.

The course costs £375 plus VAT for each person but financial assistance may be available from the host college. For further information go to the RABDF website.