Business Challenge Cattle & Sheep

There are wide differences in financial performance on farms within the cattle & sheep sector. For example, benchmarking results indicate that the bottom 10 percent of suckler farmers are only generating one tenth of the net margin per hectare of the top 10 percent. This shows that there is scope to make more money.

Aim
The aim of the Business Challenge for cattle and sheep farmers is to identify ways to improve profit and business sustainability. Its premise is this: if you can measure your costs, you can manage your costs.

Benefits to your business
The Business Challenge has been designed following consultation with farmers, accountants, bank managers and other professionals to look at the following areas:

What is involved?
The Business challenge is made up of three core units covering benchmarking, financing the business and business planning with one optional unit of learning covering either co-operation and marketing or effective and efficient labour use. Each unit consists normally of two evening sessions delivered either on a Focus Farm or convenient meeting room.

Outside speakers such as bankers and accountants are also brought in to help cover specialist areas on finance and taxation applicable to farm businesses.

How do I find out more?

If you would like more information on this Challenge or any others please contact:

Challenge Administration
College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Greenmount campus, Antrim, BT41 4PU
Tel: 028 9442 6843
Email: challenge@dardni.gov.uk