I have just deleted an appeal for help to 'Save a farm in dire financial straits.'

I replied with the message that FW regrets that it cannot accept appeals for money and suggested that the sender contact their local NFU or Citizens Advice bureau for first line advice.

Although I did not say so, I was also conscious of a lifetime of receiving appeals for help from various countries of the world including Nigeria.

How would others have responded?

 

 

 In exactly the same way.

But my heart did sink when I first read the post. As we all know it's so easy to get into financial difficulties.

 

Yes, ditto - I'd have done the same Peter.

The other thing that people in that situation can do is contact the Farm Crisis Network or the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (find contact details of both by Googling them). Both great organisations that can offer practical (and cash) help to farming families in trouble.

 

It feels like you're being hard, ignoring these things, but when you're on something accessible to the whole world like this forum, there are so many people out there trying to con you or steal from you.

On a more specific point, that one that appeared this morning had no real background to it, some of that gobble-de-gook that always goes with those watch/escort scams, and appeared to have an online method of payment already set up! Definitely right to have got rid of it, Peter.

could apply to half the arable farms in scotland; tractor broke, farmer broke, all cash spent on deisel, harvest standing in water, send a penny if you can, or the samaritans!