Farm aid scheme 'crucial' for future of farming

A rural counselling spokesman has urged the Federal Government to continue drought assistance in the wake of Australian Bureau of Statistics figures that show 10,500 families have left farming in recent years.

Bill Thompson, who chairs the North-East Riverina Rural Counselling Service, says he is concerned the figures are being mirrored locally, with many young farmers with high debt levels leaving the industry.

He says he has written to federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke to ask for assurances that Farm Help funding will continue as pledged by the previous government until 2011.

"Rather than see the decline hasten, we believe there are options there to give people a chance to remain viable," he said.