A Whole Farm Approach for Yorkshire Dales Farmers

Whilst livestock prices have been flying high this Autumn, there are still many challenges
facing Dales farmers including steeply rising production costs such as fuel, electricity and
fertiliser. There are also continuing worries about access to environmental scheme
payments, policy changes, succession and tenancy issues.
In order to combat the challenges and offer further support to the farming community, The
Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network is creating a series of meetings to consider a “Whole Farm
Approach” to the farm business.
Project Manager Carol Moffat explains, “Working with our farmers, we are creating a new
“Whole Farm Approach” to examine every facet of the business. We will be offering group
meetings to include practical workshops, peer support, and one-to-one advice to tackle the
challenges but also to ensure that any new opportunities are identified and considered”.
The project is to be funded by The Yorkshire Dales Farming in Protected Landscapes
Programme and launches with a meeting for the Upper Wensleydale Group at The
Fountain Hotel, Hawes on Monday 26 October, 7:00pm (with supper provided).
Guest speaker Amy Hughes (EmpowerAg) will be exploring how mindset, decision-
making and confidence can help strengthen your farm business. Amy says “The Whole
Farm Approach recognises that farming is more than soil, stock and spreadsheets. It is also
about people and what is between their ears. Too often this is the part of the business that
never gets audited. So, in our meeting we are going to look at how we think, what is in our
control and whether our business assumptions need a second look”.