GROWING enthusiasm from Yorkshire farmers whose businesses have benefited from the free Farm Business Advice Service has resulted in a last-minute funding boost from DEFRA for farms in the region that apply between now and the end of the financial year, on a first come, first served basis.

"The service faces an uncertain future, especially after the Haskins report," says the Country Land and Business Association' (CLA) regional director Dorothy Fairburn. She urged farmers to take advantage of a scheme that, according to a recent survey in North Yorkshire, more than 90pc of users said they would recommend to other farmers.

"In its early stages, some farmers expressed concern about the quality of the service, run by the region's four Business Link organisations. We are delighted that it is now proving to be of real business benefit," she added. "The extra £120,000 funding came after a survey in the York and North Yorkshire areas found that the proportion of farmers registered who had experienced positive business benefits rose from only a third to three-quarters over one year."

Updated: 13:10 Monday, December 29, 2003