Beyond the farm gate: making diversification work

Could diversification create a stronger and more resilient future for your farm business?

From making more of what you already produce to welcoming the public onto the farm, diversification can take many forms. But behind every successful diversification is a story of decisions, investment, challenges, lessons learned and plenty of hard work.

Join us for breakfast at Dorset County Show as we hear directly from farmers who have developed very different enterprises alongside their farming businesses.

Barbara and James Cossins will share their experience of developing Rawston Farm's pub, butchery and farm shop, while Cameron Farquharson will talk about the journey at Redlands Coppice, where the family's Highland cattle and sheep sit alongside visitor experiences, accommodation and events.

Rather than telling farmers how to diversify, this will be an honest conversation about what it is really like to do it.

Why did they diversify? How did their ideas develop? What have been the biggest challenges? How do they balance diversification with running the farm? What would they do differently, and what advice would they give someone considering taking the leap?

Cornish Mutual will also bring some of the practical insurance, risk and health and safety considerations that come with introducing new activities to a farm.

There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and learn from the experiences of other farmers.

Refreshments and breakfast baps provided. Free to attend but booking is required.