Free business and environmental support opens for family farms in Crossgar

Now in its tenth year, the programme has worked with over 1,500 family farms since 2016 and has developed a deep understanding of the pressures they face, from rising costs and changing support schemes to succession planning and increasingly unpredictable weather. The programme is particularly suited to small family livestock farms and crofters, but applications are open to any farm business that would benefit.

“Family farms are operating in an environment of constant change, but many tell us the biggest challenge is finding the time and space to step back and plan for the future,” said Beth Owen-Smith, Senior Programme Manager at The Royal Countryside Fund.

"The Farm Resilience Programme has helped farmers understand their business, explore new opportunities and make informed decisions with confidence for ten years. We know that resilient businesses and nresilient environments go hand in hand, and that’s why the programme takes a whole-farm, whole-family approach.”

Delivered through a series of in-person workshops with Rural Support, the programme provides around £2,000 worth of free support for each participating farm. Farmers receive a business health check, learn how to improve financial performance, build practical business plans and explore opportunities to work with nature in ways that reduce input costs and strengthen long-term resilience.

Participants also gain the opportunity to meet other local farmers facing similar challenges and build support networks that continue beyond the programme.

The group in Crossgar, Co. Down will be run by trusted local partner Rural Support to provide support that’s tailored to the group’s local environment and opportunities.

Steve, a fourth-generation upland beef and sheep farmer from Lancashire who took part in the programme last year, said: “I like to know what’s going on and what’s working and what’s not, and looking at figures and trying to increase profitability and efficiencies. The benchmarking gave me the confidence to keep going forwards with it and made me think that what we’re doing is right.”

Steve said the programme helped him focus on improving profitability, plan for succession and assess future opportunities for his farm business.

The programme is free and places are limited, with workshops beginning this winter. Farmers interested in taking part can find out more and sign up at www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/farmresilience or contact Christina at [email protected] or telephone 028 8676 0040.

The Farm Resilience Programme is generously supported by funding from Aldi UK, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Hilton Foods, Morrisons, Postcode Lottery and the Rothschild Foundation.