Farmers are facing a period of change with the UK’s exit from the EU and the changes in support payments proposed in the new Agriculture Bill. To understand the best ways to support farmers through the transition period, Defra is funding pilot awareness raising and advisory programmes.

ADAS, in partnership with the Farmer Network, is running one of these pilots. This includes workshops aiming to raise awareness of the impact of the changes potentially followed by a one to one visit from an ADAS consultant focusing on the individual needs of the farm business. There is no cost to farmers participating in the programme; however, they will need to complete surveys at the beginning and end of the process. These will be fed back anonymously to Defra who will use the results to shape future transition support. The Farmer Network is organising the workshops which will be held as follows:

Date	Venue	Time
Tuesday 10th March	Sedbergh People’s Hall, Sedbergh LA10 5DQ	11.30am - 1.30pm
Wed 11th March	Royal Oak in Settle, Settle, BD24 9RX	11.30am - 1.30pm
Wed 11th March	The Fountain Hotel, Market Place, Hawes, DL8 3RD	7pm - 9pm
Monday 16th March	Hexham Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham, NE46 3SG	11.30am - 1.30pm
Tuesday 17th March	Toft Gate Barn Café, Bewerley, Harrogate HG3 5JE	7pm - 9pm
Wed 18th March	Stoneybeck Inn, Bowscar, Penrith CA11 8RP	11.30am - 1.30pm
Tuesday 24th March	Alston House Hotel, Alston CA9 3RN	7pm - 9pm
Thursday 26th March	The Kellbank, Gosforth, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1JA	11.30am - 1.30pm

These dates are provisional and booking is essential – please call the Farmer Network on 01768 868615 or e mail: admin@thefarmernetwork.co.uk. For more information about the scheme, please call Veronica Waller on 01524 782797.

SAC Consulting is also delivering a Defra Future Farming Resilience pilot and are planning two workshops on 25^th March near Threlkeld and Broughton-in-Furness with one to one support focusing on carbon audits. More details will be circulated in next week’s E News.