To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how her Department communicates with the farming community, other than via the internet.

My Department uses a wide range of offline communication channels to interact with customers and these can be tailored depending upon the message being delivered and the target audience.

Methods of communication include face-to-face (public meetings; meetings with representative organisations; meetings with elected representatives; etc), in writing (letters; mail shots, leaflets; etc) and via the media (workshops; press releases; information events; etc).

Both officials and I also participate in media interviews to raise awareness of issues directly affecting the industry and wider rural community.