Farmers in northern England will receive free business consultations to improve their farming business.

The initiative will provide free business support, skills and training planning, as well as individual guidance for 20 small livestock and mixed family farms.

Free consultations are part of the Sustainability Program of the Prince's Village Foundation, a charity founded in 2010 by Prince Charles. The program will operate in Yorkshire and Lancashire and will also be available to tenants of the National Endowment in the Lake District.

The program addresses some of the biggest problems and uncertainties faced by family farmers across the UK. Developed on the basis of the Prince’s Dairy Initiative, the multi-million dollar program is currently entering its fourth year of operation and plans to attract the 1,000th farmer.

Farmers will gain the skills to assess the viability of their business and make informed decisions about the future using a business performance verification tool.

The program will also bring family-owned farming enterprises into local networks so that they can analyze their current activities and identify opportunities and improvements that can be made on farms to increase sustainability.