Farmers without qualifications could be excluded from funding

[Shughie McFee]

We don’t need 80 year olds clinging on to tenancies

exactly.

 

[Tarw Coch]

We don’t need 80 year olds clinging on to tenancies

Is age discrimination not illegal?

 

[ajd132]

Is age discrimination not illegal?

Unfortunately stubbornness isn’t!

 

[Hindsight]

Is age discrimination not illegal?

Logans Run!

 

[Tarw Coch]

Let a young person have a go!

That comment could also be used against any large scale farmer who is farming enough land to let several, possibly many youngsters “have a go”

 

[Henarar]

Let a young person have a go!

Why let ?

 

[ajd132]

That comment could also be used against any large scale farmer who is farming enough land to let several, possibly many youngsters “have a go”

Fair point. Although there isn’t enough young people from what I can tell. I chair a next gen group for the biggest grain co-op in the country and it is genuinely difficult to find enough young people to make the group worthwhile. For the first time in ten years I wasn’t the youngest person at the main agm this year. Either there isn’t anyone or they aren’t being allowed out by their forebears, which is a massive shame.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Fair point. Although there isn’t enough young people from what I can tell. I chair a next gen group for the biggest grain co-op in the country and it is genuinely difficult to find enough young people to make the group worthwhile. For the first time in ten years I wasn’t the youngest person at the main agm this year. Either there isn’t anyone or they aren’t being allowed out by their forebears, which is a massive shame.

In that case you’ve just destroyed your argument that old folk need to move over to let youngsters have a go, perhaps the old foggys are still needed.?

Farming is a buisness and I see no reason anyone should be discriminated on age, in the case of tenants they will need to be able to generate sufficient income to pay the rent and regardless will need to comply with the myriad of rules and regs the industry has to comply with, I see no need for additional rules on who can be a farmer

 

[ajd132]

In that case you’ve just destroyed your argument that old folk need to move over to let youngsters have a go, perhaps the old foggys are still needed.?

Farming is a buisness and I see no reason anyone should be discriminated on age, in the case of tenants they will need to be able to generate sufficient income to pay the rent and regardless will need to comply with the myriad of rules and regs the industry has to comply with, I see no need for additional rules on who can be a farmer

You are right, I was being tongue in cheek and I agree with everything you say. But doing this next gen group has made me realise how few young people there are in reality.

 

[Bald Rick]

Damn tootin’ right you should be qualified.
I didn’t get where I am today without spending 3 years chasing my (now) wife at HAAC

Now, where do I go for the grant ?

 

[Woolless]

Their is no requirement to have agricultural qualifications to farm and get the subsidies. However, if you want to be classed as a young farmer (<40 yr) with all it's associated benefits which can be considerable, you do need agricultural qualifications.

Yes, same here. I applied for a grant and they quibbled about my qualification. I had to send a fairly pointed email outlining why a veterinary degree just might be as good as as an HND Agri..

 

[ifindoubtflatout]

I actually think it would be a good idea for the industry (and public perception) if livestock farmers had to pass a basic exam in animal welfare. And for Arable farmers to demonstrate an understanding of the use of pesticides and herbicides.

No different from staff in food manufacturing or fast food outlets having to have a Food Hygiene Cert.

Would you use an Accountant or Solicitor who had no qualifications other than "watched what my dad did and been OK so far"

surely being Red Tractor certified should suffice
NRoSo. CPD. Test for this-test for that etc

 

[andybk]

Denmark has had that rule for years.
Could be good, trusts wont have qualifications, neither will rspb , duke ofnorhumberland etc

no but they will employ ones that do , whether that will have any relevance to agriculture is another issue , bit like land agents etc

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Currently, most farmers are driving around looking at sodden fields wondering if they'll ever get a crop in.
So all they need is a driving licence.

Unless your in the eastern counties !!!!!!!!!!

 

[glasshouse]

Bring it on
In fact, i would introduce the dirty hands test too

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Damn tootin’ right you should be qualified.
I didn’t get where I am today without spending 3 years chasing my (now) wife at HAAC

Now, where do I go for the grant ?

I must admit I was sat here quietly wondering what qualification @Bald Rick would come up with .......quite a mild one as it happens !!!!

 

[Tarw Coch]

Damn tootin’ right you should be qualified.
I didn’t get where I am today without spending 3 years chasing my (now) wife at HAAC

Now, where do I go for the grant ?

Many a true word said in jest, and there’s a lot of cases where the saying “behind every good man is a good woman “ is very true.

 

[traineefarmer]

Surely these rules are already sort of in place?

I didn't go to college or any form of further education, but I hold a PA1 and PA2 - as I imagine most members do on here. I also regularly attend courses and education days to gain certificates and cpd for farm assurance.

A qualification doesn't have to mean 3 years behind a desk and a degree with letters. We do ourselves no favours fearing education.

 

[Treg]

It‘s official,the lunatics are running the asylum.

Lunatics are certified

 

[DrWazzock]

Skills in order of importance here:

1 welding
2 fitting bearings
3 metal cutting and edge preparation
4 engine / transmission rebuilds
5 electrics
6 roofing
7 360 excavator operation and drainage work
8 sprayer driving
9 working out rates of sprays, seeds and ferts and setting up the machinery to achieve it
10 doing the VAT return

The rest is basic labouring stuff. We employ an agronomist for that side of things.
Maths has always come in handy as has physics and to some extent chemistry.

I can see the day coming when it will end up as a job for a form filling zombie ordered about by various government agencies but that time hasn't quite arrived yet.