A FREE guide offering practical advice on how to utilise farmland is being issued to farmers.

The handbook, called Making the Most Of Your Farm, outlines enterprises that are already successfully working in the region and sets out rural planning policies that may influence types of acceptable developments.

The guide, funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward with support from the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, Countryside Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, also contains a contact list for farmers interested in diversifying.

Andy Tordoff, Yorkshire Forward's head of rural renaissance, said: "The experiences of foot-and-mouth disease on the region showed how important it is for the rural and farming community to be able to diversify and we hope this guide will help farmers and planners to ease this process."

Case studies illustrate how farmers can introduce ideas on to their holdings either to support their farm business or as an alternative to farming. For each case study, the guide explains who is best to approach for advice and information on matters such as health and safety, highways and tourism.

Peter Box, chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, said the guide was about improving communications and understanding between farmers and planners.

He said: "The future of our region's farms is important for both our economy and the quality of our environment and I hope this guide will provide some practical steps for farmers interested in developing new enterprises."

Copies of the guide will be available from local authorities, and National Farmers' Union and Country Land and Business Association regional offices. It can also be viewed by visiting www.yorkshire-forward.com