New partnership formed to promote farmer collaboration

Farmers across Cumbria are being invited to register their interest in joining a new initiative aiming to strengthen collaboration and support the long-term future of farming in the county.

Cumbria Farmer Network, Cumbria Community Foundation, the Food Farming and Countryside Commission and the Cumbria Combined Authority have formed a partnership to bid for funding from the DEFRA Farmer Collaboration Fund (FCF).

This fund supports practical, farmer-led projects that help farmers and land managers work together to improve sustainability, productivity and resilience.

Cumbria already has a number of successful farm cluster groups where farmers share knowledge and coordinate their activities in support of their farms, the economy and the natural environment. The Cumbrian partnership wants to build on that success by working with existing groups and encouraging new ones to form to ensure the whole farming community can benefit.

Farmers interested in finding out more or registering their interest are encouraged to visit https://www.cumbriafarmercollaboration.org.uk/.

The partnership is seeking three years’ funding to strengthen existing farmer groups, create new ones and help participating farms develop stronger business plans for the future.

Veronica Waller, Senior Project Manager with Cumbria Farmer Network, said: “We know that farmers greatly benefit from working together in groups, so we are urging any farmers or groups interested in being part of the bid to contact us as soon as possible.

“We are gathering expressions of interest ahead of the fund opening for applications on 1 September.”