c/o Walford & North Shropshire College, Walford Campus, Baschurch, Shrewsbury, SY4 2HL Tel: 01939 262106 Mobile: 07967 438516 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] www.ruralhubswm.org.uk Green Futures 2011 Topics for 2011 What are the changes in Cross Compliance rules?? • Can Cross Compliance failures be avoided?? Livestock Identification and Record Keeping remain the cause of the majority of Cross Compliance failures. In 2009, over 50% of cattle keepers inspected, failed the cross compliance inspection due to discrepancies relating to cattle record keeping and identification. • NVZ’s in 2011 – What do you need to do now?? • Campaign for the Farmed Environment All Events Start at 7pm Monday 7 th February 2011 at Prees Cricket & Recreation Club, Brades Road, Prees SY13 2DX To book your place call 01939 262106 or email [email protected] Thursday 24 th February 2011 at Craven Arms Community Centre, Newington Way, Craven Arms, SY7 9PS To book your place call 0845 3451302 Wednesday 2 nd March 2011 at Edgmond Village Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Edgmond, TF10 8HU To book your place call 01939 262106 or email [email protected] pS Horse BeddingBusiness and Feed Link - BusinessLondon 2012 Event ‘Carbon and Farming – Turning science into Practice on your Farm’ Online Marketing to Boost Business Sales at 9th February 2011 Shrewsbury Town Football Club, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST Beef, sheep and dairy farmers are invited to 9th February 2011, from 9:15am – 1pm attend this free Farming Futures workshop. The workshop will demonstrate the blossoming Is your website attracting visitors? If not, then relationship in agriculture between low carbon maybe it’s time to improve your online marketing farming and business profitability. The day will approach. Have you embarked on using social provide you with the latest insight on why farmers media – or are you just feeling overwhelmed by it should be on the front foot of the climate change all? debate and on how reducing greenhouse gas emissions is good for your bottom line. This action-packed half-day workshop will share tools, tips and ready-made templates so your You will join fellow farmers in three expert-led business can improve its online marketing discussion groups on practical ways to reduce approach and, in turn, increase sales via new and emissions (covering energy and renewables, existing customers. feeding and nutrition, and nutrient and manure management). The workshop will take place at an This workshop is delivered in easy-to-understand organic beef and dairy farm in Shropshire and will bite-sized chunks and ideal for any business include a farm walk. Lunch and refreshments will wanting to enhance its current online marketing be provided. tactics. To register, This FREE event is suitable for businesses email: [email protected] trading 1 year + and have experience in online or call Kate on 020 7324 3671 marketing. For futher information and to book your place call 0845 1131234 or email [email protected] Discover Local Business Workshop at Craven Arms Community Centre, Newington Way, Craven Arms, SY7 9PS New for 2011 - Ironbridge Farmers’ Market Using, Developing and Marketing Local As part of the Shropshire Farmers’ Markets Produce Project, joining the Project in March 2011 is the 15th February 2011, 10.30am-3pm Ironbridge Farmers’ Market. The session will cover: The Market will be held on the 3 rd Saturday of • Discovering and tasting what is available each month from 10am -2pm in The Square , and where, within the Shropshire Hills area opposite the famous Iron Bridge. • Looking at and sharing examples of best practice with other entrepreneurs If you would like further information about the • Looking at ways of creating and promoting Ironbridge Farmers’ Market please call the an innovative and vibrant business using Markets Team at Telford & Wrekin Council on local produce 01952 384187. • Realising the value of local food and drink as a successful marketing tool. If you would like information about the Farmers’ Markets Project please call Tish For more information and to book, please Dockerty on 01584 872043 contact Jodie Griffith on 01588 674090 or [email protected] Business Link Business Event A Passion For Rural Business Conference Guide to Effective Financial Management at 16th February 2011 Park Inn Hotel, Forgegate, Telford, TF3 4NA at 15 th February 2011, from 9:15am – 1pm The Regional Food Academy, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, TF10 8NB. Understanding the importance of effective financial management is key; even if you have an At this WiRE event, the theme of the day is brand accountant, it is absolutely vital to have a handle creation and brand management and includes on the figures that affect your business. advice and guidance on suitable routes to market for varying business types and business sizes. This half-day workshop is designed to give you an understanding of how the numbers behave in the A locally sourced lunch will be provided as part of past, the present and the future, to help you ‘talk the delegate rate with plenty of networking and finance’ with accountants, bank managers and lots of experts at hand to make this a valuable day colleagues. for all. Delegate Rates are £30.00 for WiRE Members and £50.00 for non members. As a result of attending this workshop, you will be able to compile financial Key Performance For further information about this event and to Indicators for your business. book your place, please contact the Marketing and Events Team at Harper Adams University Please bring a simple (not scientific) calculator College on 01952 815338 to gain maximum benefit from this workshop. www.wireuk.org This FREE event is suitable for businesses trading 1 year + and wanting to improve financial management. Free Farm Walk For futher information and to book your place Call 0845 1131234 or email “Wet Grassland Creation and Management for [email protected] Lapwing and Curlew” Thursday 17 th February 2011 at SPS Online – Register and Use Rednal Farm, Near West Felton, 10.30am If you register and enrol for SPS Online , you can Followed by a free hot lunch at: track the progress of your 2010 claim and view 12.30pm, the Village Hall, The Cross, West Felton, your Claim or Entitlements Statements. And of SY11 4EH course you will then be set up and ready to make your 2011 application online once the claim period Ideal for farmers with wet ground, considering opens. By using SPS Online Services you can: Higher Level Stewardship or for farmers with • Track Claims existing wet grassland. • View Statements • Make a Claim Booking is essential, please contact: Mags Cousins Applying online can be quicker, easier and more Lapwing Meadows Project Officer (RSPB) reassuring than filling out and posting a paper Tel. 0300 060 0570 application form. Mob. 07540 121 464 Email: [email protected] Now is the time to go online, visit www.rpa.gov.uk/spsonline or call RPA’s Lapwing Meadows Partnership Project Customer Service Centre on 0845 6037777 to register. Anaerobic Digestion Workshop Farming Futures Thursday 24 th February 2011 Italian Study Visit - Your opportunity to take at part Walford & North Shropshire College Baschurch, Shrewsbury, SY4 2HL Walford and North Shropshire College are running a European mobility project to take a group of Farmers are being encouraged to establish farmers on a study visit to Northern Italy. The two th th anaerobic digestion (AD) plants on their farms. week trip is from 30 April to 14 May 2011 during However, the current support mechanisms for AD which you will visit a range of farm enterprises and appear insufficient to bring about the wide-scale diversification opportunities. There will also be adoption of this energy-from-waste technology, time for some sightseeing/cultural activities. Basic which is widely used elsewhere in the EU. Evidence language training will be provided prior to the trip suggests that AD can enhance the management of but the group will also be accompanied by an livestock farms through improved slurry interpreter. All travel, food and accommodation management, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) costs are covered by the project. emissions, generation of on-farm energy and reduced watercourse pollution risk due to improved If you would like to take part in this exciting nutrient release from digestate. However, economic opportunity contact Liz Donald viability is linked to capital cost of installation. If on 01939 262154 . farm-scale AD is to become a viable option for livestock farms, attention must be given to This project is funded by the Leonardo Mobility innovative digester design, improved feedstock Programme. handling, ease of plant manufacture and installation, process control and effective energy generation from biogas. In order to explore these issues, the Royal LEARN TO GRAFT YOUR OWN FRUIT TREES Agricultural Society of England and partners have organised a Workshop to be held at Walford & These half day courses, held near Weston Rhyn North Shropshire College. The Workshop, which and run by local orchardist Tom Adams, will cover includes a visit to the College Farm AD plant, will the principles of fruit tree propagation and provide you with up-to-date, practical information on rootstocks, tree physiology, knife sharpening, and affordable, farm-scale AD and its potential each participant will graft 4 fruit trees to take economic and environmental contribution to the home. farm business. It will also provide an opportunity for you to talk to industry experts, voice your views on Both courses will run from 10.30am – 1.30pm perceived barriers to the adoption of AD on farms on and suggest what actions would encourage you to th Saturday 19 Feb 2011 establish an AD plant on your farm.