Prince Charles launches scheme to help small farmers

The ‘Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme’ launches during National Countryside Week
The ‘Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme’ launches during National Countryside Week

Vulnerable small farms across the UK will get free business support and one-to-one guidance from a new scheme launched today by the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The ‘Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme’ launches during National Countryside Week, following research earlier this month which showed a steep decline in the number of small family farms.

With significant agricultural pressures including volatility in milk, beef and lamb prices and weak export trade and domestic demand, the future for all small family farms is in doubt.

Small and medium-sized family farms have experienced unprecedented strain and in 2015, the average farm income fell below £20,000 for the first time since 2007.

Recent research carried out by The Andersons Centre for the Fund demonstrates that the problems affecting farms and their ability to survive economically are now so extreme that one in five (17 per cent) is unable to pay their short term debts.

Far-reaching programme

Speaking about the launch of the programme, The Prince of Wales said: "The small farms which have been such an integral part of Britain’s landscape for thousands of years are under threat.

"My Farm Resilience Programme is designed to respond to those threats by helping up to 300 hard to reach, vulnerable farm businesses. It is the most far-reaching programme ever offered by my Countryside Fund."

Claire Saunders, the director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: "There has never been a more important time for practical action to help farm businesses. On top of the everyday problems for farmers, new and more life-changing decisions are now required.

"Small farms add vibrancy and strength to rural communities and ensure that we have a diverse farming sector.

"By offering this programme we will provide many farmers with new skills to cope with the increasing financial, technical and human challenges they face.

"The ultimate target has to be ensuring that we retain a varied and viable farming sector and nurture an essential part of our national identity by helping farms to make the most of their business."

Continuing uncertainty

Cashflow problems are being passed on to the wider community with work drying up and redundancies looming.

On top of the day to day problems for every farmer new and more life changing decisions are now required, against a background of continuing uncertainty.

Through a programme of free workshops and one-to-one guidance, farm businesses will be given the tools to evaluate their viability and long-term sustainability, enabling them to make informed business decisions on their future direction.

"The programme is committed to helping the farm businesses involved to create a better business and better life from their participation to ensure that we retain a diverse farming sector in the UK," the Fund said.

"We recognise that sometimes the decisions the individuals and families will make will seem small or insignificant but all will be encouraged in order to improve their business’ long-term viability and create a sustainable farming sector in the UK."