Continued Professional Development (CPD) for Farmers
What is CPD? You might be thinking. It stands for Continuous Professional Development - what used to be called training, or skills development. Agriculture is constantly changing, so it is important that we all commit to lifelong learning. However, finding the time, money and motivation to do this can be hard.
Common barriers
Finances
Training courses, even online, can have an associated cost, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and budget for this year and the next. When budgeting, remember to include any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred. Do you need to get cover on the farm or the croft when you are doing the course? If you need to pay for this, it should also be included in the budget.
It would be worthwhile discussing with your accountant what courses and associated costs would be allowed as a business expense. Most will be, although there are exclusions on any that help you to start a totally new business, or expand into new areas that are not in your industry.
Past experience
In my work I meet many farmers and crofters who didn’t enjoy school. This can put people off going to training courses, especially when they feature a test at the end. I think it’s worth reflecting on whether anything might have been missed that made school harder than it should have been. RSABI suggests that up to a quarter of farmers might be dyslexic and this is often missed; there is support for farmers and crofters over the age of 40 if they think this may be an issue.
Don’t let bad school experiences put you off. A tutor on a training course will help you to get to grips with the material. Attending courses with a trusted friend can also help get over any nerves and make the day far more enjoyable.
Time
Time and attention are our most precious resources, and so we want to be sure we are investing them wisely. Fully scheduling time for any training course is important, including travel, revision and any examination time. Making sure we have enough time and are not rushed is a good way to ensure the experience is more enjoyable and leave you with more motivation to attend future courses.
Can some multi-tasking make this easier? Could attending a course also be a reunion with friends that live further away? This could split accommodation costs and make the time a bit of a social occasion as well as meeting a training need. Online courses can also be a bit lonely, could you enrol at the same time as a friend or a colleague so you have a buddy to work alongside with and have a bit of accountability to complete the course?
What CPD is needed?
If we had infinite time, money and motivation, we could perhaps attend all the courses both of interest, and those legally required. However, it’s likely that we are going to have to make some choices.
Here are a few questions to decide if you have the optimum CPD plan for your business.
What is legally required?
Goalposts do move, for example, from 1 January of this year, if you are a farmer or grower relying on professional rodenticides to control vermin, you will be required to have certification to buy or use these chemicals
It’s a good idea to list out all your activities and see if you need to do a course/certificate to keep legal. Unearthed and other farming publications can help you stay abreast of any changes.
Who is the best person for the job?
It’s good to think about all the people you have available to do certain jobs - remember to include all staff, contractors, family members and interested friends.
If it’s a job that is only done rarely it may make more sense to use a qualified contractor rather than incur the costs of training yourself. For example, if only a few fields need sprayed occasionally, does the cost of a PA1 and PA2 spraying certificate justify itself? Every business will have a unique answer. If possible, don’t delegate the ones that you genuinely enjoy!
If you are going on a course, it may make sense for a few people to go together and build in some resilience. For example, a couple of people could get the dipping certificate at the same time, then work can continue even if someone is sick or on holiday.
Collaborating with others can allow people to work within their interests and skills sets and reduce the overall costs of CPD. A group could divide up the training courses and jobs associated amongst all your businesses; one person be in charge of the Larsen traps for crows, another take on the dipping duties, another one takes the rodent course and does the vermin control and a fourth undertake muirburn training and applying for licencing.
How to find courses and events farm walks in your area
Keep an eye out for updates from organisations including Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS), as well as other industry groups, which often share information on training opportunities and events. For online courses, take a look at Lantra's website. You can also check what your local machinery ring is offering.
5 top tips
- Find out the interests, skills and current certificates of everyone involved in your business.
- Consider what the business requires and answer the questions in the “Review” section above
- Set diary reminders for any courses that need renewed or updated in your calendar or phone.
- Include a budget line for CPD.
- Think about whether training would be more enjoyable, and effective, if done in person or online alongside others.
Janette Sutherland, Senior Consultant and Area Manager, Janette.Sutherland@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/04/2026
