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