FACTS & BASIS

[franklin]

I am considering doing both of these, mainly as I am bored and need something to do. I'm not expecting either to be overly taxing, but was wondering of those of you who have done it, has it benefitted you in any way? No for those of you who needed it to be agronomists etc, but for you who are farmers and who did the courses, has it actually enhanced your business for the £3k of costs and the extra faff of keeping the CPD up-to-date?

It's roughly half the cost of doing my Masters degree part-time, so I consider it fairly expensive.

 

[DrWazzock]

I did the FACTS a few years ago. If you can read and comprehend RB209 (?) then you shouldn't find it too difficult though some of the livestock stuff was unfamiliar, difficult to remember as it was complex.

As soon as I'd qualified they wanted me to do another course on manure management plans or something at £xx to keep my membership but I found this a bit of a cheek so didn't bother and lapsed to farmer rather than advisor status. I then cancelled my membership altogether as it wasn't of much further benefit. I find there is only so much stuff I can do in a day. When it becomes compulsory to be FACTS and BASIS I'll get specialists in again ....and ignore half of their advice but put their numbers in the ACCS forms.

Funny thing is my engineering chartered status has remained good for 15 years after stopping work in engineering industry so I can return to nuclear power engineering any time I like, but if I want to keep driving the sprayer then I have to keep the points up.

If your bored I'd do FACTS and BASIS. You can never know enough in this job.

 

[franklin]

tbh, you have put it in a nutshell. £3k for something you let lapse, and can be gained by being able to read and understand RB209 has given me something better to do with my time and money.

 

[Brisel]

For what it's worth, your posts in here suggest that your knowledge is already extensive. Unless you want to cut back your agronomy bill significantly I wouldn't bother. IMO the Masters is a better investment.

 

[Frodo]

What Masters degree have you done? I was looking for a challenge and thought about doing one but decided against it.

I did BASIS and Facts a long time ago and found Basis challenging, but i had limited knowledge prior to the course . I passed where some of the cocky know alls on the course struggled. Getting enough CPD points if you are not in agronomy industry is next to impossible and a bit pointless. Also having the qualification doesn't mean I can now give agronomy advice on growing a sugar beet.

 

[Hampton]

I am considering doing both of these, mainly as I am bored and need something to do. I'm not expecting either to be overly taxing, but was wondering of those of you who have done it, has it benefitted you in any way? No for those of you who needed it to be agronomists etc, but for you who are farmers and who did the courses, has it actually enhanced your business for the £3k of costs and the extra faff of keeping the CPD up-to-date?

It's roughly half the cost of doing my Masters degree part-time, so I consider it fairly expensive.

Do Facts first. There is more pure agronomy in facts than basis.
Don't think you will struggle

 

[Spud]

I did FACTS a few years ago, mostly common sense, but maybe more of a challenge than I was expecting. I derated myself to farmer status pretty quickly, as I only did it to get a better understanding, and save myself the £500 the ADAS Fertiplan at the time was costing us. 50 points in 3yrs is doable, as long as you don't miss a 10 pointer nrosa course in winter. 90 in 3yrs to stay adviser atatus was nigh on impossible without spending all winter chasing courses etc. (I havent time for all that, and I dont shoot!)
I've considered basis, but just can't spare the time at the moment.

 

[franklin]

What Masters degree have you done?

None yet. Its FACTS/BASIC or a masters. My brain is turning to spit and sawdust on my current regime.

 

[Hampton]

With regards to CPD, if you just do your own farm then you only need 20 points per year.
I am a lowly mixed farmer and I already have 36 so far this year. Pity you can't take them forward.
On the flip side, the basis organisation themselves are a total shower

 

[Bogweevil]

I did the FACTS a few years ago. If you can read and comprehend RB209 (?) then you shouldn't find it too difficult though some of the livestock stuff was unfamiliar, difficult to remember as it was complex.

As soon as I'd qualified they wanted me to do another course on manure management plans or something at £xx to keep my membership but I found this a bit of a cheek so didn't bother and lapsed to farmer rather than advisor status. I then cancelled my membership altogether as it wasn't of much further benefit. I find there is only so much stuff I can do in a day. When it becomes compulsory to be FACTS and BASIS I'll get specialists in again ....and ignore half of their advice but put their numbers in the ACCS forms.

Funny thing is my engineering chartered status has remained good for 15 years after stopping work in engineering industry so I can return to nuclear power engineering any time I like, but if I want to keep driving the sprayer then I have to keep the points up.

If your bored I'd do FACTS and BASIS. You can never know enough in this job.

I too was severely displeased by having to fork out £400 to do the NMP despite only having done FACTs two years previously and covered the same information.

 

[Boysground]

I did both BASIS and FACTS 15 years ago when there was money available to do it. I only retain farmer membership but I do feel it gave me a better understanding of what my agronomist was saying. Most years I get enough points but I do try and go to a few meetings in the winter.

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[T Hectares]

I did Basis 6yrs ago and FACTS a couple of years later, with funding towards it which helped.

I keep up advisor status, TAG membership and attending field days helps a lot towards this, and I've found the Basis organisation helpful towards managing this.

I really enjoyed Basis working on the project etc, Facts was less enjoyable but interesting, got to know some people who are now good friends, gained a qualification which has helped me professionally, what's not to like ??

If I was you I would possibly wait until there was some funding around again, although I think my courses have paid for themselves many times over...

 

[The_Swede]

Not sure what you were planning re the MSc but I've not long started mine though ATP (distance learning) @ Aberystwyth, might ultimately lead into a DAg (PhD) but we'll see...

So far so good and most importantly for me its very flexible. Fair bias towards forage systems and 'sustainability' overall although it would seem my current plant breeding unit can be skewed largely how you want it.

Just a thought

 

[franklin]

Not sure what you were planning re the MSc but I've not long started mine though ATP (distance learning) @ Aberystwyth, might ultimately lead into a DAg (PhD) but we'll see...

So far so good and most importantly for me its very flexible. Fair bias towards forage systems and 'sustainability' overall although it would seem my current plant breeding unit can be skewed largely how you want it.

Just a thought

I was planning to do one in "something" so it might be an MA as I have a *cough* *cough* arts degree. It has come about as I was *ahem* looking for some more exciting jobs around the world related to agriculture and they were all "ah, but you dont have a masters" to which I replied "ah but I have 14 years running my own business doing very well" which led to "ah, but you dont have a masters" and the cycle continued. Sadly, I am over-experience yet under qualified to do exciting things, even when I said I would work the first year for free to get up-to-speed. *sigh*.

I also saw the Sustainable And Efficient Food Production at Aber. Is that the one you are doing?

 

[The_Swede]

I’m on MRes officially - better fit of units for me but have a friend well into the Sustainable and Efficient route. She’s doing really well.

There is a good degree of cross over in terms of unit choice either way.

One piece of advice I was given was to try to stick to Aber as opposed Bangor units if of an ‘agricultural persuasion’ but that may just be subjective....

Tis a sad state of affairs when you need the degree to even get an interview (job) despite genuine wide ranging experience.

In terms of potential course entry I think you will find them very agreeable however...

Drop me a PM if you want any specifics

 

[Brisel]

None yet. Its FACTS/BASIC or a masters. My brain is turning to spit and sawdust on my current regime.

Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Agricultural Business Management course?

https://www.farmerslivery.org.uk/our-courses

 

[Brisel]

Do Facts first. There is more pure agronomy in facts than basis.
Don't think you will struggle

What do you mean by that? Both are different. BASIS is pests, a broader subject and FACTS is nutrition, narrower but in greater depth. I think he’d be fine on both but am trying to understand what’s wrong at the moment.

 

[An Gof]

Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Agricultural Business Management course?

https://www.farmerslivery.org.uk/our-courses

Absolutely brilliant course and well worth the cost and time investment you need to make to do the course.
Without doubt the best, and most useful, 3 weeks of my life. Not sure it’s quite the same now it’s at Cirencester rather than Wye

 

[Will Blackburn]

Do a masters, I've done the basis course, Barry Orme saw fit to fail me and pass the Velcourt lads. They knew absolutely chuff all about potatoes I had no experience of blackgrass, but that didn't make us equal!

I'm not bitter, my Crop Science degree, is no salesmans charter.

 

[Boysground]

Absolutely brilliant course and well worth the cost and time investment you need to make to do the course.
Without doubt the best, and most useful, 3 weeks of my life. Not sure it’s quite the same now it’s at Cirencester rather than Wye

I know 3 people who have done it in the last few years. They all have told me how good it is. Unfortunately I am too old now.

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