Scottish dairy farmers are being encouraged to sign up to the Dairy Pro continuing professional development programme.
Farm levy organisation AHDB and the Scottish Government have teamed up to try and recruit all Scottish dairy producers to the scheme by the end of this year.
The scheme, which offers access to a range of training services, normally incurs an annual membership fee of £20.
However the fee for 2017/18 will be waived for new members thanks to additional funding from the Scottish Government and AHDB.
Scottish farmers can register for free now and enjoy free membership next year as well. “We want at least one person per farm business in Scotland signed up to Dairy Pro,” said AHDB Dairy’s knowledge exchange manager Helen Brookes.
“It’s really important that we support and encourage people who work in the sector to nurture and develop their talents, as through promoting professional development we can help people build resilient sustainable businesses.”
Scottish dairy and sheep farmer Sally Williams has been a member of Dairy Pro for nearly three years and says the easy-to-use system has focused her professional development.
She said: “Previously, although I used to attend workshops and meetings which helped my professional development, this effort wasn’t recorded.
“I joined Dairy Pro so I could log all those activities and the process has given me a greater understanding of the areas I have built expertise, and those areas where I perhaps need to do more.”
The Dairy Pro scheme enables farmers to establish an online profile, register for training and events, and build up Dairy Pro points.
The range of activities eligible for points includes entrepreneurship classes, dairy discussion groups, and workshops on topics such as soil management and animal health. Farmers can also earn points through attendance at large-scale events such as Women in Dairy and AgriScot.
Once a farmer has earned 20 Dairy Pro points in any one year, they become Dairy Pro Endorsed, which demonstrates their professionalism to their colleagues and peers. They are then permitted to use the Dairy Pro Endorsed logo for the year on their company website, marketing material, and CVs.
Ms Brookes said: “We are going to be working hard to raise awareness of this offer, through the media, social media, and direct contact with businesses because we really want farmers to make the most of this opportunity.”
