Farmers and landowners have been urged to take up social media after its success as a communications tool during recent flooding.

Twitter in the Farmyard is a training session for beginners covering social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Aimed at farmers, landowners and rural workers who have never used social media websites before, the seminar will include step-by-step instructions on how to set up accounts and get the most out of them.

The training will be run in association with CLA, a membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses.

CLA Midlands communications manager Mike Ashton said: “The recent floods have highlighted the true value of social media to farming and rural communities. Much of the relief effort has been publicised and coordinated via social networks, due to its speed of communication."

Social media guru and agribusiness graduate Simon Haley will be teaching the workshops.

He said: “Social media is a revolutionary tool for the rural industry. Farmers can use online platforms to skip a number of links in the food chain and sell their products directly to consumers.

"The training session will cover all of the basics such as using apps to make business decisions, writing blogs, recording a YouTube video, and tweeting about activities to help share your story with a broader audience.”

The course will take place on Friday, March 14 at Sixways Stadium, Worcester.

It benefits from subsidised Defra funding through the Rural Skills Framework (via Vicky Anderson Training) and the three hour courses cost £15 plus VAT. Please contact enquiries@va-training.co.uk to check eligibility and to reserve a place.