Agri qualifications and young farmers payment

[MickyMook]

Sorry if this has been discussd - I couldn't find it anywhere.

The young farmers payment seems like a useful additional income for people in my position (26 and looking to develop the family farm).
The problem is you need the qualification to get it. I know where I am the local agri college runs a cheap course to get you the level 2 qualification but I've heard on the grape vine you won't really learn much of value.

I've gone off and got a master degree in engineering rather than agriculture. It mightn't seem relevant but I've spoken to some of the universities and they have informed me that it will grant me access to their post graduate courses in agriculture if I wish to look into further qualifications.

So my question is 2 fold:
1. Has anyone been on farm management or similar courses which would meet the level 2 requirement that were particularly useful?
2. would you recommend going above and beyond the minimum to enhance your farm business/general agricultural knowledge from an academic standpoint? I'm thinking PG cert or something similar - would you foresee a return on investment at about £750 per module with 3 module minimum for the PGCert?

I'm only really looking at part-time, distance learning courses that can be worked on while working full time - so the time spent doing coursework will be my own rather than taking away from the business development per se (although where farming is concerned, no time is really spare).

 

[Still Farming]

Money to get money is it ?

 

[MickyMook]

well, not really, as the level 2 qualification is fairly cheap. If I just wanted to claim a grant I'd just do that and be done with it. I'm more concerned with investing time (and money) in order to improve the business and farming practice. I don't know anything about what's involved in any of the courses, or if people found them beneficial, and really that's my primary concern. Maybe I should reword the question a bit.

 

[Formatted]

The problem is you need the qualification to get it. I know where I am the local agri college runs a cheap course to get you the level 2 qualification but I've heard on the grape vine you won't really learn much of value.

Since when? Thought the only qualifiers were age and length of tenure in charge of the business.

 

[MickyMook]

Since when? Thought the only qualifiers were age and length of tenure in charge of the business.

Possibly it's an areas specific thing... I'm in northern Ireland.
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/yo...ou-meet-eligibility-and-evidence-requirements

 

[Formatted]

Possibly it's an areas specific thing... I'm in northern Ireland.
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/yo...ou-meet-eligibility-and-evidence-requirements

Sounds like it, England is fairly simple to apply for

 

[MickyMook]

Sounds like it, England is fairly simple to apply for

Bloody typical

 

[MickyMook]

OK so I'm guessing the initial question wasn't as relevant as I first thought..
To switch it up a bit:
Has anyone completed or have any knowledge of the currently available part-time, distance learning courses available in agricultural, agronomy, farm business management etc. that would be suitable for someone with farming experience but no formal qualifications in it? I'm more interested in gaining useful knowledge and insight than a shiny piece of paper with my name on it.

 

[Still Farming]

Luck of the Irish

 

[S J H]

Do you get it for 5 years?

I'm 29 but didn't claim last year, because I was late with my application, so I didn't want to hold things up.

 

[Renaultman]

My Son is doing a day release business management course at Askham Bryan. It's a modest cost for 2 years and can be used as a stepping stone for an agricultural degree. Hopefully he will learn a lot either from the course or his peers.

 

[Still Farming]

What's it worth anyhow in Money ?

 

[MickyMook]

What's it worth anyhow in Money ?

For NI:
"Calculation Method The number of hectares activated by the applicant in any given year x 25% of the Regional Average Unit Value per hectare multiplied by a figure derived using the following approach
 The YFP will be financed using no more than 2% of the annual regional ceiling.
 Regional average payment is calculated by dividing the Direct Payments Scheme Ceiling for the calendar year 2019 by the number of eligible hectares declared in 2015.
 The final figure will equal 25% of the regional average payment and will be subject to a linear scaleback to respect the YFP ceiling of €6.55m. 42
 Payment to an individual applicant in 2017 can then be calculated by multiplying the rate by the number of entitlements activated in 2017 (subject to a maximum of 90)"

about as clear as mud that...

 

[MickyMook]

My Son is doing a day release business management course at Askham Bryan. It's a modest cost for 2 years and can be used as a stepping stone for an agricultural degree. Hopefully he will learn a lot either from the course or his peers.

Sounds interesting. I hadn't really thought of day release, and I haven't seen any over here yet. I'm a little too old to go on a full time course and have spent my time at uni not learning about agriculture - so I was mainly looking into distance learning courses.

 

[MickyMook]

Do you get it for 5 years?

I'm 29 but didn't claim last year, because I was late with my application, so I didn't want to hold things up.

I believe it's a maximum of 5 years from you take over the majority of the business (I'm sure someone on here knows more than me though)

 

[Renaultman]

Sounds interesting. I hadn't really thought of day release, and I haven't seen any over here yet. I'm a little too old to go on a full time course and have spent my time at uni not learning about agriculture - so I was mainly looking into distance learning courses.

I picked up on it after a similar discussion on here. He is in a different situation to you, having done A levels and not wanting to continue in full time education. After a few years on the farm this came up and seems the perfect compromise. There a couple of students his age who have done degrees in other areas. I just googled agricultural day release courses and Askham came up. It's funded as am apprenticeship so most of the cost is government met I believe.

 

[Still Farming]

In £ 's worth bit is it ???

 

[Gibbybox]

Micky,

I'm in a similar position to yourself being from a farming family yet I opted to study a masters in engineering rather than agriculture. Don't assume that you need to have a formal agricultural qualification to be meet the young farmer classification. If you have undertaken agricultural work in the past (even while at school/summer holidays), and are able to get references from other farmers to prove such, then this can be enough to demonstrate experience. A letter from your local vet practice or similar if they are familiar with you won't go amiss either.

If you want to undertake a part-time course to increase your knowledge in business management, land management, agronomy etc then by all means go ahead. However, I've plenty family and friends who went to agricultural college and not many would claim to have learned a substantial amount.

Happy to discuss further if you want to drop me a PM.

 

[Digester Man]

I did a Level 2 course in Greenmount, arable, found it pretty good to be honest. One night a week for a few months. Got turned down for the YFP last year due to a paperwork blunder, had to re apply to it again and got it this year for the first time.