Don’t suffer in silence, charities tell farmers
Times are tough for many farmers. Athwenna Irons reports on the support that is available...
CORNISH farmers struggling to cope with rising costs and worried about surviving winter are being urged to speak out to help prevent problems from spiralling.
Charities providing support to the county’s farming community made the call at a joint meeting held in Truro this week and hosted by Cornwall councillor Martyn Alvey.
The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, November 8, aimed to harmonise the different organisations’ approaches as a tough winter looms for the Duchy’s farmers and food producers.
Mr Alvey, who is responsible for the council’s county farms and animal health teams, said: “This autumn I have received alarming news over the considerable increase in farm costs such as animal feed, fertilizers and electricity which, combined with a shortage of forage due to the summer’s drought and the rise in interest rates, are leading to an extremely tough winter ahead for our farmers.
“These increased costs are then compounded by a slowdown in trade and the fear of animal disease outbreaks.
“There could be a perfect storm on many farms this winter.”
The meeting welcomed representatives from charities including Farm Cornwall, Farming Community Network (FCN), Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and the Addington Fund, as well as other interested parties, such as the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA), National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Devon and Cornwall Police and also the Bishop of Truro.
Members of staff from Cornwall Council’s animal health, county farms and public health teams were also in attendance.
All parties agreed that farmers and smallholders who realise they have a potential problem this winter must “speak out, to help out”.
The support charities stressed that they are there to help with advice, cashflow, forage supply, business continuity, retirement planning and pastoral support, but this “can only
‘Farmers’ individual situations have caused extreme distress to all involved’ EDWARD RICHARDSON
happen if people are brave enough to ask for help”.
Outreach worker Edward Richardson, in his role with Farm Cornwall, provides ‘sound, practical, realistic and confidential advice’ to farmers who find themselves in trouble.
He said: “Over the past 12 months there have been a number of cases where farmers have not asked for help until the situation was bleak.
“Their individual situations caused extreme distress to all involved and this was often compounded by extreme personal financial loss; in a six-month window, one farmer suffered substantial losses.”
Sue Gillbard, Cornwall coordinator for the FCN, added: “I have volunteers who are ready to assist, they can help on missing cattle passports, farm debt, planning for your future or even just sit with you to listen to your day-to-day problems over a cup of tea.
“A problem shared is a problem halved. Make that call and speak to someone that does understand farming.”
Edward Buckland, chairman of the Cornwall committee of the RABI and himself a land agent who has helped many farmers, warned that the time for “burying your head in the sand is over”.
He went on: “Some farms are facing disaster, yet I can assure anyone worried about their future that help is there. Please be brave and ask for help now.”
The Farming Help partnership is a collaboration between the Addington Fund, FCN and Forage Aid and is supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
Farmers in need can access free, impartial and confidential support by ringing the Farming Help helpline, which is open every day between 7am and 11pm, on 03000 111 999, or contact Farm Cornwall on 01736 367589.
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health, please call the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24/7 NHS mental health response line, on 0800 038 5300.