Increase in Shropshire farmers needing financial help

Last year only two farmers went to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution for aid between January and July, and collected about £2,000 each.

But in the first seven months of this year, nine working families have received a total of £16,400.

Chief executive Paul Burrows said: "The statistics are very worrying. The most significant change is in the number of working farmers contacting us.

"In the past the majority of people we helped were retired or disabled people, whom we continue to support, but now most new calls come from working farmers."

He said he expected the situation to get worse before the end of the year as reduced crop yields and livestock come to market in the late summer and autumn.

The charity hands out money to pay for things like funeral costs, utilities, household repairs, clothing and council tax arrears.

Grants are also provided as emergency cash to people waiting for state benefits and can pay for temporary labour when someone has fallen ill.

In total, including the retired and disabled farmers, the RABI gave out £80,000 to 70 families in Shropshire between January and the end of July this year, including to retired farmers.

This compares to the £64,000 it handed out to 61 families during the same period last year. They have so far seen 38 new referrals during 2013.

Mr Burrows said: "Many are really struggling. Some have simply reached the limit of their ability to juggle finances and borrow more.

"Others are trying to deal with the fall-out from last year's disastrous weather, which saw significantly reduced yields and incomes, as well as substantial rises in costs such as animal feed and fertiliser.

"Farming does have a bright future, but not everyone can take advantage of the opportunities available and recent months have been the most challenging that many farmers have known.

"The difficult conditions of 2012/ 2013 hit farms of all sizes, from all sectors.

"I'd urge anyone who is in difficulty, or who knows someone who is, to pick up the phone and talk to us. We can do more than they may think."