Farming charities call for funding help

Farming charities are facing a winter of tremendous pressure with many producers struggling due to lack of forage and high feed prices.

Farm Crisis Network co-ordinator for Cornwall Peter Clarke said: “We are desperately in need of funds. FCN needs £300,000-£400,000 a year to operate, and the cases are really ramping up now.”

NFU president Peter Kendall, who travelled down to Cornwall to address the regional NFU, said the wet summer and autumn had caused extensive problems for arable and livestock producers alike.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the countryside looking quite so sorry as it is at the moment – it makes it clear how important farming charities really are,” he said.

And Ian Bell, director of the Addington Fund, said the charity was looking to help farmers in any way it could, including providing housing and transporting forage to those in need. “You may think the public don’t have an affinity with farming, but they really do. I was in Coventry the other day and a couple with no link to farmers gave up their winter fuel allowance to help out – people really do care.”

Contact

Farm Crisis Network 0845 367 9990

Addington Fund 01926 620 135