The Farmer Network is recruiting for the Farm of the Future Programme, funded by Defra and coordinated by The Prince's Countryside Fund.

Through a series of free workshops and one to one support, the programme will help farmers across the north of England to better understand the changes to farm support payments.

Workshops are being organised at locations across the north including at the Coquetvale Hotel in Rothbury on Tuesday 26th October at 7pm.

The workshops will provide business skills so farmers can manage the upcoming changes, make informed decisions about the future of their farm business, and maximize the opportunities offered by the new environmental schemes. Any tenant or owner-occupied farm currently in receipt of BPS in England is eligible to join.

Farmer Network Senior project manager Veronica Waller said, “this programme is a learning journey for farming families, helping them understand the changes to support payments and consider their options for the future. One of the benefits of the programme is having the opportunity to talk to other farmers in similar circumstances at the workshops.”

Ian Cairns of Agrifood Consulting said: “The removal of BPS payments over the next seven years will have a significant impact on farm businesses in Northumberland. This programme will help farmers to take a critical look at their business and make practical changes and identify new opportunities.”