THE BISHOP of Hereford has asked clergy and congregations to help farmers and their families through what he describes as a “dire situation”.

The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, the Church of England’s spokesman on rural affairs, says he is extremely concerned about the difficulties agriculture is going through, in Herefordshire and England and Wales as a whole.

“This is almost certainly the most difficult time for the whole farming community since the horrendous foot and mouth outbreak 12 years ago,” said Bishop Anthony, in an open letter.

“As a result, it is vital that our farmers, their families and our whole rural communities are assured at least of our prayer and support in these straitened times, with as much understanding of their predicament as we can show, together with our listening ears, pastoral help and, where appropriate and possible, practical support too.”

The bishop has encouraged rural clergy and congregations to make contact with as many local farmers and their families as possible, and point them in the direction of other help if necessary.

“While there is nothing that those of us outside the farming community can do about the underlying issues themselves – and not much that those in the farming industry can do about weather conditions, fuel and feed costs, disease and so on – we can nevertheless demonstrate our support by showing as much care and understanding as possible, so that those suffering hardship and extreme worry and isolation can at least know of our solidarity.

“Practically, we can buy locally sourced food as much as possible to ensure returns to the local economy.”

The Bishop said he is thankful that there are professional groups offering help, and charities such as the Farming Community Network (FCN), Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and the Addington Fund which can be contacted.

“FCN received more calls locally in the first month of this year than the whole of last year, which is a measure of the acuteness of the problems farmers and their families are facing,” said Bishop Anthony.

“Welsh farmers were estimating when this year began that their incomes would be down 40 per cent, sadly that figure is likely to be significantly exceeded, with all the hardship, worry and debt that will result.”

Among the significant issues farmers are facing listed by Bishop Anthony are: Å Lambs out on snow covered uplands with many having died in the cold.

* Grass barely growing yet.

* Livestock still having to be fed winter feed with farms’ own supplies likely to have been long since exhausted, and buying in prohibitively expensive fodder.

* Autumn sowings not possible on vast acreages because of the extreme wet conditions.

* Many potato crops and others ruined in the soil.

* The ground still too wet in many areas for early spring sowing.

* Even where spring (and autumn) sowing has taken place, there is as yet limited germination and little growth.

* The scourge of bovine TB continues to attack herds and farms.

* Milk prices, despite having rise in a little, are still woefully inadequate given the rise food and fuel costs.

* Schmallenberg virus is present in our area, if patchy.

* The absence of the last autumn sowing will mean that there will be a shortage of next winter’s feed on many farms even if there is a good summer.

* The cost of fuel.

“This is a very sorry catalogue of problems that farmers are having to face,”

said Bishop Anthony.

There is an ecumenical support group within the diocese headed up by David Gwatkin and the C of E’s associate agricultural chaplain Rev Nick Read. They can be emailed at brc.gwatkin@ymail.com and agchap@btinternet.

com.

The Farming Community Network helpline is 0845 367 9990 or email mail@ fcn.org.uk. The RABI helpline is 0300 303 7373 or grants@rabi.org.uk.