New DairyCo workshops to develop dairy business strategy

DairyCo is running a series of Planning for Profit workshops designed to support dairy farmers with business planning and strategy.

The workshops will take place around GB in autumn/winter with the aim of helping farmers to develop sound business goals and a plan for the future that will give them a greater chance to take their business forward and maximise profits.

Helen Brookes, DairyCo product manager explains: Making business decisions is never easy, particularly when youre wrapped up in the day to day running of your farm.  Planning for Profit has been designed to enable you to develop a strategic business plan by taking time away from the farm and giving you the opportunity to investigate and discuss your options with consultants and fellow producers.

The workshop gives dairy farmers the opportunity to test different business scenarios and is delivered by tutors with knowledge of financial and physical aspects of the industry.  It is a chance to ask questions such as what if I want get 100 more cows, build a new shed, get an extra member of staff, or retire Dad out of the business?. And its an opportunity to see what impact those changes will have on the business performance, before making any commitments.

Middlesborough dairy farmer, Mark Fletcher, did the pilot workshop earlier this year: Planning for Profit gave me the knowledge and confidence to make the change that works for the whole farm, he says.

Dairy farmers interested in finding out more about the course can contact Helen Brookes, DairyCo, on 02476 478865 / helen.brookes@dairyco.ahdb.org.uk.

Dates and places are:

Telford, Oct 19/20, Contact Hugh Black on 01568 614310

Carmarthen, Nov 2nd/3rd, Contact Richard Davies on 01824 790214

East Midlands, Nov 14/15, Contact Judith Stafford 01335 390023

Scotland, Nov 23/24, Contact Heather Wildman 01290 338273

Lancashire, Dec 6/7, Contact Karen Lancaster on 01524 781750

Worcestershire, Jan 18/19, Contact Hugh Black 01568 614310

Staffordshire, Feb 1/2, Contact Judith Stafford 01335 390023

East, Feb 21/22, Contact  Andy Dodd 01531 890559 or Shirley Macmillan 07766 402393

DairyCos aim is to promote world class knowledge to British dairy farmers so they can profit from a sustainable future.

To achieve this DairyCo aims to:

• Ensure farmers have access to world class information needed to improve competitiveness, GHG reduction and productivity
• Ensure farmers have access to direct and indirect support to help them improve their profitability through better business management
• Ensure that dairy farming is reducing its impact on the environment
• Ensure farmers understand the benefits of breeding and use the related tools

DairyCo is funded entirely by milk producers, via a statutory levy on all milk sold off-farm, at the rate of 0.06p per litre.  This provides an annual income of around 6.5m.

DairyCo is a division of the statutory levy board, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).