DEFRA hosts summit to help cash-strapped farmers
RSN members have helped me pin down the benefit of farmer networks. Tim Farron MP Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming is hosting a parliamentary launch of a report we have been working on about them at the House of Commons on 21 May. If you are really, really interested and would like to come I might have space if you email me to get you an invite.
This article which talks about a symposium hosted by Owen Patterson on helping challenged farmers make me reflect that there is a real need to foster more farmer networking to build self reliance as a strand in securing the future of particularly upland farming. It tells us:
Major banks, farming charities and farming representatives will meet at 4pm on Wednesday 8 May for the summit at DEFRA’s headquarters in London.
Experts in banking, farming, insurance and business are expected to discuss ways to improve farmers’ access to financial support already available and to find new ways to help improve their businesses’ resilience.
Representatives from HSBC, Lloyds, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, the NFU, The Prince of Wales’ Countryside Fund and The Addington Fund will be among those attending the meeting.
Over the past 12 months, bad weather has heaped pressure on farmers and left many facing financial ruin.
The summit has been called to help banks and farmers understand and respond to future business risks and opportunities which will help to grow the rural economy.