“We’re getting a call a day every day from worried farmers, the problem is getting worse before it’s getting better.”

These were words of Philip Heary, an agricultural contractor from Meath who also helps with the New Land League group. The group has been set up to help to offer assistance farmers who are in financial difficulties are facing pressures from lending institutions.

“We know we can’t do everything for farmers but we are here to listen and to offer advice. In some cases, banks are wrongly putting pressure on farmers who are behind on payments. Some banks are taking single farm payments and some co-ops are taking huge chunks out of milk cheques which is leaving farmers unable to cope. There needs to be a better way of dealing with debts,” he said.

Heary went on to acknowledge that there are also cases where farmers borrowed above and beyond their means and that it was not all about reckless lending by credit institutions.

Heary said that the majority of the calls the group is receiving are from three counties in particular.

“Farmers are ringing us every day and from all over the country but the vast amount of the calls we are getting are from Louth, Meath and, most recently, Kildare,” he explained.

The group wants farmers who might in financial difficulty to get in contact and that help is there.

“The majority farmers who are struggling with payments or are being pressed by the banks don’t realise that there are many others like them. They end up suffering in silence and worse in some cases. We’ve directed so many people to SOSAD (a suicide prevention and bereavement service). Hopefully farmers will see this and realise that they’re not alone and people are there to help,” Heary concluded.

The group can be contacted at www.thelandleague.net