Farmers' group to hold launch events

The Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network has become a formally constituted business and recruited 30 members since its first recruiting meeting at Hawes in February – and claims 200 more farmers expressing interest in joining.

It was inspired by the success of the Cumbria Farmer Network, which built to 550 members in four years by organising solutions to common problems and group deals for supplies.

In collaboration with Eblex, the YDFN has organised two free educational sessions, 4pm to 9pm, on Wednesday next week at Fleets Farm, Hetton, between Skipton and Grassington, and Thursday at Brown Moore Farm, Hawes.

Each event will incorporate an Eblex presentation on "MoTs for rams" and on quality assessment of finished lambs; but there will also be talks, organised by the YDFN, on rabbit control, EID, winter beef feeding and intestinal worm control, plus a briefing on the aims of the network.

Call 01768 868615 to register an interest in attending.

With support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Carnegie UK Trust, the YDFN was set up as the Yorkshire Dales branch of the previous Cumbria Farmer Network and is serviced by the company office in Penrith.

Annual membership is 41.50 (35 if paid by August 31 2010), for farmers and farmer-controlled businesses.

The operation in Yorkshire is managed by Chris Clark, who farms a 400-acre hill unit at the top of Wharfedale, with the help of local co-ordinators. Announcing the August open evenings, Mr Clark said this week: "YDFN is owned and run by farmers for farmers. It is a not-for-profit organisation.

"Farmer groups in Cumbria have not only reduced input costs but increased profits, improved their knowledge, saved time, reduced bills and sourced funding to share new equipment."

CW 7/8/10