Waters of LIFE will host advisor training for its Agri-Environmental Programme pilot in January 2025.

The in-person events form part of a wider training programme that enables advisors to work with farmers on behalf of the project. It is open to any agricultural advisor who would like to work on the Waters of LIFE Agri-Environmental Programme pilot with clients in Waters of LIFE demonstration sub-catchments.

Click here for an information booklet on the Waters of LIFE Agri-Environmental Programme pilot. 

 

Role of the Agricultural Advisor:

Agricultural advisors have a vital role to play in delivery of the programme.

Work includes:

• Conducting a run-off risk assessment (flow pathways) walkthrough on participant farms
• Scoring habitats on farms to facilitate results based payments to participating farmers
• Supporting farmers in implementation of general measures (e.g. nutrient management planning)
• For a detailed breakdown of the role of the agricultural advisor and associated payments, please contact the project.
• Completion of Waters of LIFE Advisor Training

For a full breakdown of on the role of the advisor and association advisor payment rates, please contact the project. 

Agricultural Advisor Training:

Advisors must be formally approved by Waters of LIFE in order to work on the agri-environmental programme. Approval is dependent on participation in a bespoke programme of 13 hours of contact time across classroom, computer based and field work training.

• Classroom Training (8 hours in-person)
• Computer Based Training: Use of desktop app (1 hour online)
• Field Training: Habitat scoring (4 hours in-person)

In-person Training Event:

The first element of the training programme is a one-day in-person event. Dates and venues have been confirmed and advisors will need to attend one of these days:

• Wed January 22^nd Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville Co. Cork (Awbeg and Shournagh Catchments), 09:15 – 17:30 
• Thur January 23^rd Ard Na Rí Hotel, Tuam, Co. Galway (Islands Catchment), 09:15 – 17:30
• Fri January 24^th Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (Graney and Avonmore Catchments) , 09:15 – 17:30

Each event is tailored to the local catchment. Any advisor not available on the day best suited to their catchment should make register for a different day. In that case, catchment specific information will be provided by another means.

Registration:

• To register (via Eventbrite) for Advisor Training in Cork on Wednesday January 22^nd 2025: https://bit.ly/Cork-Advisor
• To register (via Eventbrite) for Advisor Training in Galway on Thursday January 23^rd 2025: https://bit.ly/Islands-Advisor
• To register (via Eventbrite) for Advisor Training in Portlaoise on Friday January 24^th 2025: https://bit.ly/Clare-Wicklow-Advisor

All training events will begin at 9:15am and run to 17:30pm. There is not cost for attendance and lunch will be provided.