FARMERS were urged to use the Royal Lancashire Show as a platform for revealing the hardship caused by the current crises affecting food.

Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society president Lord Lilford said the beef crisis alone was having a devastating effect on everybody connected with agriculture and on the three billion pounds annual generated by the beef industry.

Speaking at the president's luncheon on the first day of the three-day event at Astley Park in Chorley, he urged those outside agriculture, and especially town dwellers, to discuss the crisis with farmers and general goods dealers at the show.

He said this would enable them "to gain some awareness of the significant problems and financial hardship that the crisis has caused throughout the Agricultural Industry." Lord Lilford highlighted the financial stress produced by the beef crises and the fact that farmers have the highest rate of suicide of any industry.

But he added that with understanding from landlords, bank managers, family and friends, farmers could be helped back to better times.

Referring to "another possible" crisis affecting lamb and the past egg and chicken crises, he added that people should be "circumspect and wait for further information" before jumping to conclusions.

Lord Lilford also stressed the importance of encouraging young people to stay in rural areas and praised the introduction of the new Farm Business Tenancy which had removed old secure tenancies.

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