b'RECOMMENDATION 3:CASE STUDY REALIGN FARMING SUPPORT AND ADVICE TO SECTOR NEEDSMilk Supply Associationinnovation driving efficiency and growth There is a general consensus thatScotlands Rural Innovation Support Service providesexisting support to farmers is extensiveprofessional support to farmers interested in tryingbut does not necessarily focus on the new things. With help from the service and the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund, a plan ispriorities of the market, nor changing being developed for a large-scale breeding programmeconsumer preferences and beliefs. across three grass-based dairy farms in the south-west of Scotland. Moving forwards we need to realignThe big innovation here is in focusing on the cows, the existing advisory funds to focus on not the bulls. The farmers, in Dumfries and Gallowaygrowth activities as well as optimising the and South Ayrshire, are combining their herd data with genetic testing to identify their best cows. Thereafter,support and advice available to farmingthey may use IVF and embryo transfer as part of ato futureproof its activities, improve process to improve the genetic potential of their cows.performance and deliver value by:Ive done everything I can to reduce costs and produce for less, and its still not enough, said RoryEnsuring that on-farm support is delivered Christie, of Dourie Farm, who is working with Grahamco-operatively and collaboratively and Armstrong of Kirvennie Farm, and Charlie Russell ofwithout duplication; is easy to accessGlenapp Estate.and provides value on farmBy doing this, I can increase my annual milk volume per cow by 1,000 litres. said Rory.Launching a 1 million annualprogramme to match fund on-farm improvement programmes, support innovation, work needed aroundclimate change and encourageCASE STUDY on-farm processingMuller Direct Next Generation Ensuring that the Scottish Dairy Hub The next generation of farmers (and the one after that)is adequately resourced to support are critically important to the agriculture sector and this has been recognised by Muller, which has set upfarmers and farmingMuller Direct Next Generation to help ambitious young dairy farmers develop their careers by helping Making sure that the sector has thethem build successful businesses for the future.people it needs with the skills theyFully supported by Muller, the programme helps need to achieve the ambition, modern these farmers with bespoke training on areas such apprenticeships/succession/leadershipas benchmarking, market analysis and business improvement planning. Ensuring that investment in newIt also introduces them to new ideas that can helpinnovation centres complement each improve their dairy businesses as well as providing aother, are market driven and address the peer network which the farmers can use to test ideas, discuss issues and share best practice. practical needs of the sector as a whole13'