Action 1
"All farm businesses making insufficient profit, or a
loss, should review their cost structures and market
returns to ensure that they are maximising the potential of
their business ."
Progress
SEERAD has made available to farmers a range of tools to
help them review their cost structures and market
returns.
Under A National Strategy for Farm Business Advice and
Skills (see
Action 2),
The FarmBASS Whole Farm Review Scheme, launched in July
2004, offers grant support to farmers towards a review of
their business by a professional adviser.
SEERAD has also supported the development and delivery
of MilkBench, a benchmarking tool specifically aimed at
dairy farmers. Support in using and interpreting the
benchmarking information will be available through
workshops, business clubs and other peer group forums.
Other developments include the publication by the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(endorsed by SEERAD) of guidance on farm management
accounting.
SEERAD will continue to encourage farmers to make use of
these tools to develop profitable businesses.
Links
- National Strategy for Farm
Business Advice and Skills:-
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/fbas-01.asp
http://www.milkbench.org.uk/ndbs/Public/content.aspx
- Defra guidance on farm management
accounting:-
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/fbadvice/farm-accounting/index.htm
Action 1 complete insofar as mechanisms have
been put in place to facilitate the primary objective.
Action now rests with farmers themselves to make use of
the available tools.
Next Action