Welsh farmers offered free ICT and animal health training

Welsh farmers are being offered free training on computer skills and animal health and welfare as part of a government-funded skills development programme.

The Welsh Government says offering free training to farmers is a way to help them remain productive, competitive and sustainable.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills development programme is fully funded and will be delivered by Lantra through Farming Connect’s lifelong learning and development programme.

See also: Free management skills workshops open for farmers

Computer training will be pitched according to the level of prior experience.

Farmers with little or no IT knowledge will get six two-hour sessions over six weeks, after which they should have the confidence and knowledge to use a computer to help run their business.

Farmers with more IT experience will be able to access more specific training workshops on topics such as social media, internet security, online benchmarking, banking and tax, VAT services, drone technology, GPS and precision farming. 

Animal health and welfare

Welsh farmers will also be offered free short training courses on topics which tie in with the government’s animal health and welfare priorities.

The training, developed jointly by Farming Connect and the National Animal Disease Information Service, will be delivered by veterinary practices throughout Wales from early next year.

Modules will include countering antibiotic and anthelmintic resistance, animal health planning, bovine TB eradication, Johne’s disease control, lameness reduction, reducing mastitis and cutting lambing losses.

The programme will complement a separate scheme being run by by Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) as part of its Red Meat Development Programme.

Farmers are being invited to take part in a three-year project which which aims to improve flock and herd health and improve on-farm efficiency.

Farmers who take part will get a free flock and herd health plan, biosecurity advice and vet review visits.

Beef and sheep producers interested in taking part in the HCC project are being asked to put in an expression of interest by 31 December 2018.