Computer skills courses bring pigmen up to date
Computer skills courses bring pigmen up to date
Foot-and-mouth means pig
producers have had few
chances to meet and
discuss the latest technical
and marketing issues.
This special, edited by
Hannah Velten and
Marianne Curtis, rounds up
the latest on PMWS, weaner
stress and adding value.
Robert Davies kicks off with a look at IT training
MORE than 200 pig producers have attended computer skills training courses financed largely by the East of England Development Agency.
The 12-hour courses were designed by staff of six agricultural colleges in the region, in consultation with the National Pig Association and its local members.
The project, which attracted £53,000 in EEDA funding, started after an NPA producer survey revealed most of the regions 1100 pig producers put improved computer skills near the top of a list of things they believed could make them more efficient and profitable.
Chris Knock, who contract finishes four batches of 1800 pigs/year at Stowmarket, Suffolk, says: "Many of us were given cheap hardware and basic software by breeding companies when we bought stock.
"The equipment was being used for record keeping, but many producers were unable to use spreadsheets, e-mail or the internet. In many cases the computer the kids played with in the house was far superior to the farm office machine."
To make it worthwhile investing in better computers, producers wanted training for themselves and others responsible for keeping records and doing accounts. The EEDA provided the finance, the colleges drafted worksheets for four three-hour training sessions, and 270 people applied to attend the first series of courses.
By the time foot-and-mouth halted things, 202 farmers had completed the course, 30 were part-way through and the rest were waiting to start. A survey of the first 74 students showed 41 were highly satisfied and 30 were satisfied with the content and teaching.
"Coming just after people had been trapped on their farms by swine fever, the courses also brought social benefits," says Mr Knock. "It seemed that the timing could not have been better. Then F&M arrived."
The projects success generated demand from cereal, beef and sheep producers, leading to Mr Knock being taken on by the EEDA as a part-time consultant to develop new computer skills training for other farming sectors in the region.
An £80,000 budget has been provided for courses targeted at cereal growers. Worksheets for beef and sheep producers are being evaluated and should be in use by the autumn.
The NFU is backing the project and has provided office space at its Newmarket office, while the NPA has contributed staff time to organise training for pig producers.
"The EEDA was impressed by the way the NPA set out to help producers help themselves by carrying out the survey and beginning to plan the courses." *
COMPUTER TRAINING
• Development Agency support.
• Updates skills.
• Allows social interaction.