We have been working intensively with small farmers in the extended South Cavan area over the last few months in the area of IT, We helped the small farmers group rejuvenate and make an application to SICAP to secure funding to roll out a tapered “Looking After My Farm Online” Course. The course has been designed for small farmers living in rural areas, the classes not only teach participants about the Department of Agriculture’s AIM Bovine Online System but will also act as a social outlet. With payments from the Department of Agriculture to farmers going online, and warnings that farmers will risk losing payments if applications for schemes and payments are not made online, this programme is timely. The overall aim is to get farmers online. The programme is designed to provide farmers who have never used the internet with the confidence, motivation and skills to reap the benefits of participating in today’s digital world. It will cover topics such as: farmer registration; calf and herd registration; viewing your herd profile, using AIM as a Herd Register (no need for the blue book), viewing individual bovine details, creating and applying for Certificates of Compliance (farm to farm movement), notifying farm to farm movements online, checking movement eligibility ahead of moving an animal.
The Class will run over 6 weeks, 2 hours per evening. Each class will have a self care component built into it which will take place at every class, these will include social networking in rural Ireland, dealing with stress, how your GP can help you, resources online, the benefits of discussion groups, health related goals, managing your leisure time. We have two classes running at present one in the Realtóg Centre, Kilnaleck and one in Breffni Integrated Offices, Corlurgan. There is plans to work alongside Roscommon Leader Partnership to roll out classes all over the county during the year. Contact Hazel Leahy SICAP Development Officer for more information.