About us
Farming Connect is one of four schemes within the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2025, which is focusing significant investment from Welsh Government to revitalise rural communities and provide support for agriculture and forestry in Wales
The Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2025 is a 11 year programme funded by the Welsh Government. It aims to improve resilience and promote transformational change in agriculture, forestry and rural communities. It supports a wide range of activities which:
improve competitiveness in the agriculture and forestry sector
safeguard and enhance the rural environment
foster competitive and sustainable rural businesses and thriving rural communities.
The Farming Connect programme supports the development of a more professional, profitable and resilient land based sector. It comprises an integrated programme of knowledge transfer, innovation and advisory services designed to deliver greater sustainability, improved competitiveness, and improved environmental performance.
It is integrated with other Welsh Government business support packages and activities including Business Wales and Resource Efficient Wales. It also forms the main mechanism and structure for delivering a coordinated and integrated package of knowledge transfer, innovation and advisory services targeting the farming and forestry businesses.
The programme enhances links with innovative University research and development combined with Further Education gained from the Agricultural Colleges; industry priorities led by Levy Bodies and expert knowledge to help ensure that farmers in Wales are able to see and apply the latest innovations and best practice.
The priority areas of Climate Change, Biodiversity, Forestry, Red Meat, Dairy, Grassland, Arable, Horticulture, Organic Production, Pigs and Poultry are focus areas of the programme. Cross cutting policy themes of Tackling Poverty, Future Generations, The Natural Environment, Climate Change, Animal Health and Welfare, Plant Health, New Entrants and Women and Health and Safety are also integrated into every element of programme delivery.