Guide offers advice and support to dairy farmers (From Salisbury Journal)

Guide offers advice and support to dairy farmers

4:40pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Rural Focus

A NEW guide to funding and support available for dairy farmers was launched by Natural England at Livestock 2012.

The booklet has been produced by Natural England in consultation with the NFU, RABDF, DairyCo and the Environment Agency and aims to provide clear and helpful information on how environmental management through Entry Level Stewardship and Catchment Sensitive Farming can complement farming practices and provide business benefits.

Called The Funding and Support for Dairy Farmers, the leaflet is designed to provide a concise and straightforward overview of information and new scheme developments relevant to dairy farmers.

It covers the key sources of grant aid, incentive schemes and advice available to help the economic viability and environmental sustainability of dairying.

Launching the leaflet, Geoff Sansome, southern director of land management at Natural England, said: “We wanted to make it easier for farmers to get the appropriate assistance and guidance they need and to provide advice in an integrated way that is endorsed by the industry.

“This year’s wet weather and milk pricing concerns have presented significant challenges for the dairy sector and it is important that we support our milk producers by ensuring they have the latest information they need to help take informed decisions when making their environmental and business plans.

“For example, there is a wide range of Environmental Stewardship options available to dairy farmers and this leaflet highlights those which can be of best value and most readily integrated into dairy units.”

NFU dairy adviser Luke Ryder said: “The information, support and funding sources detailed in this leaflet are extremely important in helping dairy farmers target their environmental activities.”