The new guide is a joint venture between the Social Security Agency and the Family Farm Development Ltd., a partnership of the main agricultural and rural development organisations.

    Mr. Dodds, speaking at the launch, said, "Knowing who to contact and where to obtain the right information is often half the battle. Rural isolation can often act as an additional barrier to accessing information. Unemployment, child support, access to good housing are issues which don't stop at the boundary of the local town. They may be less visible but they are of equal concern in rural areas."

    "The A-Z for farmers is an opportunity for them to get what is theirs by right, to make choices about the services they need and an opportunity for the rural community to learn the facts about services. The new guide will help those from the agricultural community access information that they may not have been aware of before now," he said.