Farmers facing challenging conditions as the countryside hunkers down to fight Coronavirus.

Jane Brooks

New Member
Location
Warwickshire
Britain's farmers face challenging conditions as the countryside hunkers down to fight Coronavirus.



Coronavirus poses a particular threat to animal welfare as it could potentially incapacitate large numbers of the workforce upon whom farm animals rely for their husbandry. It is also likely that emergency resources will be stretched caring for human needs so animal welfare could fall to family members or volunteers.



With the growing fears that the pandemic will rapidly spread into the rural countryside farmers need to look at what backup they have in place to keep animals fed and continue with other essential agricultural work.



Animal welfare cannot be compromised and is likely to become a terrible source of anxiety to anyone suffering from Coronavirus who becomes too unwell to care for their livestock. Particularly lone farmers or smallholders with very limited family support.



Obviously everyone's individual situations differ but every sector of the agricultural and the smallholding community needs to be prepared for challenging weeks ahead.



As a first port of call the Farming Help partnership is endeavouring to find practical on-farm support, or point callers towards local organisations who may be able assist members of the farming community in need.



Many local networks are ready and willing to help where they can, The Yana Project which covers the rural communities of Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcestershire, they have also put together a National Directory of Rural Support Groups which is available on their website.



Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support services have around 700 farming members who support communities in the Durham Dales. Other groups cover many areas including Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and contact details of many local groups can be found on-line and on sites such as Facebook.



Unfortunately many charities are themselves understaffed, working from home and facing falling revenues, so it is encouraging to see that a large number of local Young Farmers Clubs are already reaching out to their local communities offering assistance if it is needed.



Many husbandry systems rely heavily on timely inputs of resources, such as feed, water, bedding, and frequent inspections, a milking herd is a prime example of the need for routine to avoid stress in the animals to prevent conditions such as mastitis.



Obviously good record keeping will enable a relatively pain free transition should relief staff be needed, now is the time to check that any relevant information is available in an easy to access format should key staff members become unavailable. As part of farm assurance planning many farmers have already developed an on-farm contingency plan to prepare for most types of emergencies, however check that sufficient detail is available.



As a rule most contingency plans cover animal health incidents and various other disaster and emergency scenarios related to natural events, such as flooding. However scant attention seems to be given to emergency planning for severe staff shortages due to illness.



Imagine a complete stranger had to take over the day to day running of your farming enterprise and go from there, if you do not already have one consider preparing a clear and concise farm map giving an overview of your property, perhaps from RPA maps, identify the location of everything from buildings to fuse boxes, fire extinguishers to chemical stores, septic tanks to water shut offs, diesel stores to animal health supplies even where the first aid kit is.



Look at the bones of the farming calendar, daily, weekly and even monthly activities, feeding routines, animal health programmes, in fact a new contingency plan may need to be undertaken, it is imperative to have clearly written details of daily feeding routines and other work that needs to be carried out for the next few weeks if emergency help is needed.



Make sure that friends, family and neighbours are aware of the plan, as it may be necessary to bring in contractors or volunteers who are prepared to take over vital jobs.



Equally important is to ensure that a list of emergency details are to hand, cover things such as emergency contacts, such as who to call if machinery breaks down, Vet contact, feed suppliers, neighbouring farms, other family members, right down to who takes fallen stock.



Of course there may be readers who have already taken steps to produce their own 'doomsday plan' covering just such an eventuality as the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, if so their guidance and help may put many of their farming colleagues on the road to a little piece of mind that at least the livestock won't suffer.



National help and advice



During the Covid-19 pandemic the Farming Help partnership will endeavour to find practical on-farm support, or local organisations who may be able assist members of the farming community in need.



The helpline number is 0300 123 999, it is operated by Farming Community Network (FCN) and the Farming Help partnership is a collaboration between The Addington Fund, FCN , R.A.B.I, RSABI and Forage Aid and is supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Other useful numbers:



Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi)

Confidential Freephone helpline 0808 281 9490

[email protected]

Website rabi.org.uk



Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI)

Confidential helpline 0300 111 4166

Website rsabi.org.uk

Email contact form on website



The Addington Fund

Telephone 01926 620 135

Website addingtonfund.org.uk

[email protected]



FCN

Helpline 03000 111 999

[email protected]

Website fcn.org.uk



Forage Aid

Telephone 07967 219 991

[email protected]

Website forageaid.org.uk



A few regional resources




The Yana Project

Covering the rural communities of Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcestershire

Yana has also put together a National Directory of Rural Support Groups,

available on their website.

Confidential helpline 0300 323 0400

[email protected]

Website yanahelp.org



Lincolnshire Rural Support Network

Confidential Helpline 0800 138 1710

Email [email protected]

Website lrsn.co.uk



Nottinghamshire Rural Support (NRS)

Helpline 0800 138 1710

Website nottsruralsupport.org.uk



Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services

Telephone 01833 641 010

Out of hours/Emergency 01833 640 320

Website utass.org



Warwickshire Rural Hub

Telephone 07780 159291

Email [email protected]
 

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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