The NFU’s West Dorset new branch secretary has warned there are challenges ahead for farmers this year.

Jennie Greenwood has taken over from Paul Bennett who has retired after more than 30 years.

She has been at the branch for seven years and comes from a farming background with a wealth of experience in associated industries.

She said a large part of the challenges ahead have nothing to do with farming – but with technology and the world market.

Ms Greenwood said farmers were being the ‘guinea pigs’ for a new computer system for the basic payment scheme of European subsidies.

She said: “The new scheme is getting all of the UKs’ farmers– half of whom don’t have a computer and half of the ones that do don’t know how to use it use them, to be guinea pigs for a new registration system and a new single farm payment in one fell swoop.”

She said there should be 60,000 farmers nationwide registered but currently only a 1000 had.

The problems would also be compounded by the fact that many west Dorset NFU members, who need to register as individuals, will have to go through a verification process that involves answering financial questions.

She added: “A lot don’t have individual bank accounts, or maybe even a mortgage, a passport or a new driving licence so how are they going to pass that test?

“As a branch we are looking at what we can do to help people register. For the ones with terribly slow broadband it is also going to be a challenge.

“We are going to try and do some days for farmers to come in here and get them through the registration process.

“Each person has to have an individual email address and that is the other potential problem “Some don’t have a computer and say there is no point as they haven’t even been able to work out how to use a mobile phone.”

Other top challenges are whether or not there will be a badger cull and dropping milk prices –prices that farmers have no control over.

Jennie said milk price is due another drop this month and factors influencing it were the Russian import ban and the Asian market.

She said: ““The biggest impact is actually what they are doing in Asia – so a lot of milk price is effected by Chinese purchasing and part of the reason the milk price is what it is is because it is a world market economy and it is a world traded product. I don’t think people know that.

“The challenges are balancing out pricing and making sure farms can still be run economically.”

Despite all the challenges Jennie said she was looking forward to her new role.

She added: “We are apolitical at the NFU but we do lobby and try and make sure farmers are getting looked after and I am looking forward to carrying on with that.

“The nice thing for me is I have been here this long so I know our farm members reasonably well.”