The global credit crunch could shut scores of farms across Shropshire with many running £100,000 overdrafts and battling spiralling credit card debts, the president of a leading charity warned today.

Bob Forster, of Telford, who heads the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), says more needs to be done to help farms in crisis.

“While arable farming is having a good time at the moment Joe Public assumes that everyone in farming is and that is not true,” he said.

“It is certainly not unusual to find a farmer with a £100,000 overdraft and £50,000 on credit cards. But it’s not our job to moralise to these people: they need our help.”

On average, £71,500 is given out to beneficiaries each year in Shropshire. However, given the nationwide disaster which followed the Pirbright leak of foot and mouth, that figure jumped by £20,000 last year.

“In Shropshire today the typical long-term beneficiaries are people who have retired from farming probably about 10 years ago and are likely to be in the 70 to 80 range,” said Mr Forster.

“Yet, given the huge problems with the credit crunch, we expect many more farmers of working age to be in need of our services in the near future. It is a worrying time for everyone, and farmers are no different.

“But it’s not the disorganised farmer who will suffer. Those that feel the crunch the most will be the better farmers in that they have invested a lot of money in their business, but they will be forced out before the price rises filter through. This is where we could see real casualties in Shropshire.”

RABI doesn’t give money to prop up failing farm businesses but offers practical advice and killed welfare officers who are masters at sourcing funding pools.

Mr Forster explained: “A lot of the time we find that people are not claiming benefits they are entitled to and often that is the difference between sinking and swimming.”

He added: “These people can really be on the edge and while the Samaritans are great at what they do it is cash people are strapped for and cash we can provide.”

Oliver Cartwright, for the NFU in Telford, said: “The fact the charity doubled the amount of its support funding in Shropshire during 2007 than in the previous year paints a very clear picture of what a struggle the past 12 months have been for many who have had to cope with flooding, blue tongue, foot and mouth restrictions and a myriad of other difficulties.”

By Agricultural Editor Nathan Rous