FARMERS have been advised to get in quickly if they want to benefit from the millions of pounds of new government funding.

The England rural development programme offers £1.6bn of help through a variety of schemes but that has to cover the whole country and last seven years.

"There will not be enough money for everyone; probably only about 15pc of farm businesses will benefit," said Mr Peter Chaundy of the Yorkshire dales and moors farm business support project.

He was addressing a meeting organised by the Lower Dales training group held at Kettlesing, near Harrogate, on Thursday of last week.

The objective 5b fund was almost gone and he urged farmers to grab what was left quickly, as well as the money from the new schemes.

"Do not wait until tomorrow because it may not be there tomorrow," he said.

Mr John Guy of Business Link North Yorkshire explained the greater role his unit would have in helping farmers.

The service offers three days' free consultation with a specialist farm adviser who will draw up an action plan. If further specialist help is needed after that, it must be paid for.

He said the service had been greeted with some scepticism. "You do not know us and we do not know you terribly well so I understand there may be a little scepticism, but we see it as very important that we work with you as customers and are looking forward to it," he said.

The Business Link funding was separate from anything else and was guaranteed until 2004.

"However the service is on a first come, first served basis so when the money has gone for that particular year, that is it until the next," said Mr Guy.

The advisers all had a working knowledge of farming and were already attracting a lot of interest. They had received 70 calls on the day before the meeting and that morning had been to a similar event at Whitby where another 18 had put their names down.

Mr Barry Otley, whose wife founded Get Ahead Hats 14 years ago, gave some sound advice on diversifying.

The hat hire firm now has 13 franchisees nationwide, with a further two likely to be taken on next year.

The business has proved ideal for farmers' wives who have been able to attract fresh income to the farm, with the luxury of flexible opening times which can fit around the rest of the farm. Mr Otley said research was vital before opening a new business but a great deal of help and advice was available. It was important to identify demand and to make sure the diversification would complement the existing farm business.

Mr Chaundy can be contacted on 01904 700898; and Mr Guy and Mr David Campbell of Business Link are on 01904 686000. Lower Dales Training is on 01943 850772