Dear Reader
Here at the Rural Skills Centre we are passionate about supporting our regional farmers and their employees and helping them enhance the productivity and sustainability of their farms.
In this month’s newsletter we are delighted to introduce our new Regional Skills Programme. The aim of the prorgramme is to provide high quality subsidised training courses for the local agricultural and forestry sector.
We're also taking a look this month at a fantastic Jubilee product from Muddy Wellies, the Royal Agricultural College's social enterprise. Muddy Wellies is run by students and staff at the college, and they are delighted to announce a competition for all Growing Skills readers to win a limited edition Muddy Wellies Jubilee Ginger Ale trio pack. Read on for more about Muddy Wellies and details of how to enter the competition.
Best wishes
South West Regional Skills ProgrammeOpen to farmers and farm workers living and working in the South West Region, (defined as the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) the Skills Programme is a combined venture involving the Duchy College, Royal Agricultural College, Lantra and Defra.
The aim of the scheme is to provide funding for practical and skills based training (up to 50% of the cost) to help develop the wide range of skills required to successfully manage modern farms. This includes business development, strategic change management, operational efficiency, technical skills, adding value and diversification.
Training programmes can be tailored to meet individual needs and can be delivered either on-farm or here at the College. To be eligible applicants must be approved by the Royal Agricultural College or Duchy College.
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Flock Science to Farmers: Adding Value to your Product with a Farm Walk
On 27th June we will be opening up our Harnhill Farm in order to demonstrate methods of improving flock performance. During the event we will be covering a number of topics from creating efficient sheep genetics for the future, to ‘adding value’ to your product. There will also be meat and quality butchery demonstrations, research displays, presentations, group discussions and a farm walk.
How to Ensure that the Next Generation Succeed
Taking place on 27th September at the College, this event will focus on how to help the next generation succeed with their business ideas and secure success for the future. A range of speakers will pass on their experiences of how to successfully integrate the new ideas, navigate the maze of Tax, Wills, Gifting, Tenancy, Grants and Finance, including Charlie Beldham the Director of Cotswold Gold.
How to Improve Beef Meat Quality
Join us at Boutflour Hall on 14th November for a day investigating the opportunities available for improving meat quality. We will be joined by Adrian Ivory, a Scottish beef farmer, who will share his experiences on how to work with the supermarkets; a Buyer from Waitrose, a Genetics expert from Eblex and other specialists in the field of meat quality improvements and adding value to your product.
For more information on any of these seminars please visit the Rural Skills website or email the Skills Programme Team.
14th May: Sheep Shearing
16th May: Continuous Cover Forest Management
9th June: Sheep Shearing
19th June: Suckler Cow – Supply Chain Improvements
For more information on any of these courses please contact us.
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 To celebrate the Queens Jubilee Muddy Wellies has released a limited edition Jubilee Ginger Ale. The deliciously warm undertone of the ginger in this ale is created by adding root ginger during the brewing process, meaning that the bitterness of the traditional ale is complimented by the spiciness of the ginger.
Our Jubilee Ale is also available as part of our Jubilee trio of ale which features the Muddy Wellies Original Ale (4.8% ABV), Golden Ale (4.3% ABV) and our limited edition Jubilee Ginger Ale (3.8%ABV). This patriotic trio features red, white and blue labels, perfect for a seasonal gift or Jubilee picnic.
As with all Muddy Wellies products it was selected by our students and percentage of the profits will go back to help our students start-up their own businesses through the First Steps Proof of Concept Fund, clever wellies!
Our little wellies have got big plans, so keep up with the latest news visit our website or follow us on Twitter @mwellies.
For a chance to win a limited edition trio pack, just answer this question.
What age must you be over to attend the Rural Skills Centre Quad Trekking half day course?
Email your replies to Nikki at the Rural Skills Centre by 31st May 2012. The winner will be picked at random from all the correct answers, and be announced in the June issue of Growing Skills.
Thanks for entering and good luck!
We still have availability on the following courses:
Chainsaw CS30/CS31 Maintenance and Felling of Small Trees - week commencing 18 th June
Chainsaw CS38 Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue - week commencing 16 th July
Wood chippers – 4 th July
ATV (Quad Bike Operation) - 4 th July
Blacksmithing and Ornamental Iron Work - Module 1 - 26 th May
Dry Stone Walling Module 1 Introduction - 9 th June, 7 th July
Dry Stone Walling Module 2 Walling Features - 23 rd June
Emergency First Aid – 16 th May, 11 th July
Forklift Rough Terrain -Telescopic (Experienced) 18 th & 19 th July
Pest Control (Rabbits & Moles) - 15 th June
Pest Control (Rodent Control) - 8 th June
Pesticide Application PA1 Safe Use of Pesticides - 30 th May, 18 th July
Pesticide Application PA2A Ground Crop Sprayer - 17 th July
Pesticide Application PA4S - Granule Application - 3 rd July
Pesticide Application PA6A Hand Held Applicator - 25 th July
Tractors: Introduction - 31 st May/1 st June, 26 th & 27 th July
Tractors: Operation & Machine Handling - 17 th /18 th May, 14 th /15 th June
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