The workshops were due to be held at the end of last year but were postponed because of bad weather.

BPEX Head of Communication, Andrew Knowles, said: "This volatility in feed prices and its impact on profitability echoes events in 2007/08.

"Given predictions on climate change and increases in global population and demand for feed grains, it is expected that similar volatility can be expected in future years."

The workshops are being led by Offre Demande Agricole, which is a French company that has been offering training and expertise in this area for a number of years in France to arable and pig producers.

Following this series of short workshops, BPEX will be arranging more extensive training for businesses interested in actively using the tools.

The details of the workshops are:

• East Anglian – 13 January, Brome Grange Hotel, Eye, Suffolk; starting at 4.30 with a hot buffet from 4pm
• Yorkshire – 18 January, Crown Hotel Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire; starting at 4.30 with a hot buffet from 4pm

Anybody who wishes to attend one of the workshops, should contact Sonia Bryson, email [email protected] or by phone on 02476 478790.