Grocery Adjudicator Bill confirmed in Queen's Speech

Farmers Weekly article: …

The FFIS is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is a targeted small grant scheme providing support for farmers, foresters, agricultural contractors, woodland owners and horticultural businesses. This support is to enable them to improve their competitiveness by using resources more efficiently or improving animal health and welfare. This scheme aims to help make your business more profitable and resilient whilst reducing the impact of farming on the…

As the article says, changes in retirement age are not particularly relevant to those of you in the farming world as work continues well passed statutory limits anyway. Do you have any stories to add of your most senior relatives who are still heavily involved in the farm???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17537153

The Aylesbury Vale Rural Milton Keynes LEADER fund stands at nearly £800,000. LEADER is a European grant that awards business expansion grants up to £50,000 to micro business and farmers diversification projects in the area. The panel is made up of 12 local advisors who come from a background of rural business, farming or rural public sector. A vacancy has arisen for a member of this panel. If you have…

Afternoon all,

I have had emails stating that advertising is wanted but so far I have only received payment for one advert in the Show Catalogue. Could those of you who wish to appear please send a cheque for £10 made payable to Ngage Solutions ASAP and an email of the advert that you wish to feature - black and white or colour. To fit A5 paper.

March 16th is the last day to get the cheque in by so please help to promote your business using this great value…

Afternoon all,

Did any of you catch Nick on the BBC Oxford News on Friday evening? It was a feature on how LEADER has helped rural businesses. Unfortunately the feature has now been removed from iplayer however, hopefully we shall be able to put a video up soon when the reporter is able to send it to me.

In the meantime, please have a look at the attached…

Have any of you read this week's Farmers Weekly yet or is that a treat for tonight whilst thawing out next to the fire?

When you do see it you might want to have a look at the article written about Mentmore Park Farms which talks about the benefits of GPS.

The LEADER Programme has successfully funded GPS equipment for two farmers…

Sustination is a relatively new organisation which is working to "join the dots" between suppliers and customers, take a look and see if it could be of use to you?

http://www.sustaination.co.uk/#how_it_works

Is anybody already using this group? Would you recommend it?

Let everyone else know!

Last year I attempted to strike a deal with the Oxford Farming Conference to see if members would be able to benefit from discounted prices/benefits but unfortunately this was not possible, however Viv came back to me with the below email which may be of interest to some of you younger members.

Dear Lucy

Many thanks for your email.

Regrettably the Conference is not in a position to offer discounted tickets – the revenue for the Conference comes…

A guide to writing effective funding applications

Applications can be confusing, but this straightforward…