Prince Charles Offers Cash To Struggling Welsh Farmers

June 26, 2009 6:57 a.m. EST

Wales, United Kingdom (BANG) - Britain's Prince Charles has offered cash and advice to struggling farmers in Wales. The future king held a meeting at his Welsh farmhouse in a bid to help the ongoing dairy farming crisis, which is threatening the U.K.'s self-sufficiency in milk.

Charles - who is currently on his annual four-day summer tour of Wales with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall - also offered his top level contacts to try and help the farmers.

Farmers' leaders, farmers' union and rural charity chiefs attended the meeting, which lasted for 90 minutes.

Reverend Sarah Brown, of the Farm Crisis Network (FCN) charity, said: "It is enormously encouraging that the prince has got involved and I am very proud to have been part of this meeting."

"The prince very quietly does a lot of work in the farming community and this is very typical of the way he operates."

"He offers help where it is needed and you have confidence because he knows the problems we are facing."

The ongoing crisis in the industry was triggered earlier this month when the Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFOB) co-operative collapsed.

A spokesman for Clarence House said after the meeting: "The Prince of Wales was very keen to lend his support to dairy farmers at this difficult time and in particular small family farms."

"He has specifically asked his rural action group to work with farmers, suppliers, retailers and other key partners to see if there are some possible solutions to the many issues they face."