Fund offering support to small-scale producers
An appeal has gone out to small-scale farmers in Dumfries and Galloway and on the island of Arran to take part in the second year of the Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme, run by the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
The scheme is aimed at helping small farms improve their way of working through a programme that provides free business support, skills and planning tuition, and one-toone guidance. The southwest Scotland co-ordinator, Heather Wildman, said anyone who felt they could benefit from the advice on offer should apply.
The feedback from participating farms from the first year of the scheme has been positive, with farmers feeling far more confident about the future of their farm business.
One of those who participated last year but who wanted to remain anonymous said: “I’d recommend the programme to families who are looking to solve the challenges they face on their farm.
“If you’re wanting to create change within your business, the programme is really useful. It’s good to take a step back occasionally and look at what you’re doing.”
The programme has been developed off the back of the Prince’s Dairy Initiative, which has helped strengthen the UK dairy supply chain since 2012. Claire Saunders, director of the Prince’s Countryside Fund, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme to more locations this year, building on the excellent response to its first year.
“The skills training and expert advice provided by the programme help farmers to cope with the many challenges that their businesses face, and allow them to plan for the future more confidently.”
Research commissioned by the fund and carried out by the University of Exeter into the future of the small family farm in the UK revealed a steep decline in numbers since the beginning of the century. Further declining farmgate prices have led to the average farm income falling below £20,000 for the first time since 2007.