January 26, 2016 by simplythebestjt

Business Plan workshop Thurs 28th Jan Wolfscastle, Pembs.

Still places available at this free Farming Connect event, book a place with Sian.Tandy@menterabusnes.co.uk

https://wales.business-events.org.uk/en/events/business-plan-workshop/

January 25, 2016 by simplythebestjt

FARMING CONNECT FUNDING WINDOW CLOSES 5PM FRI JAN 29TH

DON’T MISS OUT !

The next window opens in April.

STB CLINIC- Personal Development Plans

Before accessing funding for training, you have to complete a Personal Development Plan –PDP. You are welcome to call up to STB offices at Caerlan Farm, so we can support you. You must be registered with FC SINCE October 2015.

MUST BE BEFORE THURS 28TH JAN, as Julie is out training Thursday and Friday.

When you register for Farming Connect, it will trigger a series of letters/communications which will be required to do your PDP. This is an online process, so :-

YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING OR IT WILL BE A WASTED JOURNEY!

BAS number – for the business (First Letter)

PASSWORD – (for PDP – this will be in a separate letter)

AND

CON number – for every person you registered

USERNAME – for every person you registered

Your (The Principal) CON number and Username will be on the first letter with the BAS number.

You may have just registered yourself – in which case it will be on the first letter, but if you registered other people in the business, they will each receive a CON number and Username, so please bring those as well.

SO PLEASE CHECK YOUR LETTERS NOW FOR:

BAS:

CON:

USERNAME:

PASSWORD:

BEFORE TRAVELLING!

We have attached a map and the postcode is CF40 1SN and we are at the dead end of a one mile part road, part track and the only address at this postcode.

CAERLAN FARM, (off pleasant view CF40 1SB)

PENRHIWFER, TONYPANDY, CF40 1SN. 01443 670267

Farming Connect STB Clinic PDPattch

Geoff, Julie, Nick and Katie .

January 24, 2016 by simplythebestjt

FARMING CONNECT- COMPLETING YOUR PDP.

THE NEW PROCESS FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS is all on the new website, but that is now on a new address- http://business.wales.gov.uk/farmingconnect

The window for funding applications is open 4^th Jan to 29^th Jan, but the system is now very complex as it is all online.

The first challenge or key message is to get everyone to re register, and to make sure they list all the family members who are eligible, so it would be mam, dad, the kids, and if grandparents or brothers are in the business, then their spouses and kids as well.

There are a limited number of courses. (Trailer tests and welfare of animals in transit, LGV AND HGV no longer eligible.)

The next challenge is to complete their development plan online, BEFORE applying for funding. (Similarly doing the online H&S course before a machinery and vehicle application.)

We are aware that there will be a big demand for Pesticide courses, so we have prepared a guide to the process on our pesticide page at http://www.simplythebesttc.co.uk

It is likely that all not all applications will be approved as in previous years.

We have gone through the steps in the pdp process, and they are not easy to navigate, especially for people not very computer savvy.

Because of this we have decided to offer “surgeries” where you can attend our offices, and have one to one support through the essential online bits. You will need to have registered and obtained usernames and passwords BEFORE you attend. Once you have these you can ring us and arrange a time to call. We anticipate you, or trainee, are looking at 1-2 hrs.

If you are going to have a crack at it yourself, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS.

Log in to BOSS. Ignore the instructions on right that ask if this is first time. Use the username and password FC gave you
Create PDP
Select your role
Make sure the goals section is filled in linking the goal to the training required.
Don’t worry too much on tab 3 (it’s confusing) go to tab 4 – courses, select farming connect folder
Add the online health and safety course (in e learning folder) to the pdp
Do the h and s course BEFORE you fill in funding application, which is on farming connect website not BOSS Remember your PDP CAN BE ADDED TO AT ANY TIME, but it must be started before any application for funding, as it is assessed, funding approval is no longer automatic

Best of luck ,

All best wishes

Julie and the team

January 19, 2016 by simplythebestjt

FARMERS WORKSHOPS- COMPILING A BUSINESS PLAN

There are a series of free Business plan workshops organised by FARMING CONNECT running around Wales. Booking is essential,

Contact sian.tandy@menterabusnes.co.uk or Catrin.lloyd@menterabusnes.co.uk

21/01/2016	Thur	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Menter a Busnes, Uned 3, Y Parc Gwyddoniaeth, Aberystwyth SY23 3AH
22/01/2016	Fri	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Lantra Builing, Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY
28/01/2016	Thur	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Wolfscastle Hotel Wolf’s Castle, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 5LZ
29/01/2016	Fri	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Ivy Bush Hotel, 11 Spilman St, Carmarthen, Sir Gâr SA31 1LG
11/02/2016	Thur	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Welshpool Livestock Market, Buttington Cross, Welshpool SY21 8SR
12/02/2016	Fri	9:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Three Salmons, Bridge St, Usk, Monmouthshire NP15 1RY
18/02/2016	Thur	09:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	The Bull Hotel, Llangefni, Ynys Môn LL77 7LR
19/02/2016	Fri	09:00 – 17:00	GCB / BPW	Plas yn Dre, 23 High St, Bala LL23 7LU

January 14, 2016 by simplythebestjt

NEW RODENTICIDE TRAINING

Latest news on Rat Control

Lantra-Awards_logo_APPROVED The use of Rodenticides as a control measure on farms has been looked at and it has been identified that the risk to other animals such as Predatory birds and mammals is too high. However outdoor use of rodenticides is often necessary as part of a properly managed rodent control strategy. Consequently new “stewardship conditions “will appear on labels of rodenticides, requiring those that purchase and use them have been on an approved Training course.

These labels are being introduced from April 2016, and Training will be a requirement for users from June 1^st 2016 .

BUT, as an interim measure, if you are member of a farm assurance scheme, FAWL, Red Tractor, that membership will permit you to purchase and use these products until the end of December 2017.

So Training needs to be undertaken by December 2017 if you wish to use Rodenticides on the Farm.

Lantra Awards has a new course that is recognised as an approved Training course by CRRU- Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use.

Responsible and Effective Control of Commensal Rodents It is a one day course, integrated training and assessment, for which you will receive accredited training and a skills card.

Clients in Wales can apply for funding for this course, which is £165 plus vat per person. Currently 80% of the cost of this course is funded, you pay £33 plus vat, if approved, so we would advise you to :

Add it as a goal on your PDP
Add the course in tab 4 –in the Technical courses folder.

Apply in the next window, if approved you have 9 months to complete training. Simply The Best Training Consultancy Ltd

Simply The Best will be running these courses in autumn 2016, and early 2017, which will mean you will have funding in place now for the time that suits you best, avoiding lambing, harvest etc.

Click here for this page to print Latest on Rat Control

Click here for the course portfolio sheet Lantra – Lantra Awards Technical Award in Responsible and Effective Control of Commensal Rodents – 2015-12-09

http://www.thinkwildlife.org/about-crru

January 11, 2016 by simplythebestjt

FARMING CONNECT- HAVE YOU GOT A USERNAME ?

To complete a PDP online, THE PERSON WHO REQUIRES THE TRAINING needs a USERNAME. SO IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE USERNAME ISSUED, YOU WILL NEED TO CONTACT THE FC SERVICE CENTRE WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS OF EACH FAMILY MEMBER THAT REQUIRES A PDP/TRAINING.

THE NEW PROCESS FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS is all on the new website, but that is now on a new address- http://business.wales.gov.uk/farmingconnect

The window for funding applications is open 4^th Jan to 29^th Jan, but the system is now very complex as it is all online.

The first challenge or key message is to get everyone to re-register, and to make sure they list all the family members who are eligible, so it would be mam, dad, the kids, and if grandparents or brothers are in the business, then their spouses and kids as well.

You will be issued with a BAS number for the business, which you will need to access training funding.

Each individual will receive a CON number they need to keep safe for attending FC events.

Each individual will receive a USERNAME to access the Personal development plan.

See our handy guide to registration

FARMERREGFCV2JAN16

Do you want to pop up for a PDP CLINIC ?

Farming Connect STB Clinic PDPattch

There are a limited number of courses. (Trailer tests and welfare of animals in transit, LGV AND HGV no longer eligible)

The next challenge is to complete their development plan online, BEFORE applying for funding. (Similarly doing the online H&S course before a machinery and vehicle application)

We are aware that there will be a big demand for Pesticide courses, so we have prepared a guide to the process on our pesticide page.