IMMEDIATE support for flood-hit UK growers needs to be provided by the government, according to the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
After storm Henk in early January the government announced that growers who had suffered uninsurable damage to their land would be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Farming Recovery Fund, but the fund is still not open and the CLA is calling for urgent action.
Following one of the wettest and stormiest winters in decades, thousands of land remain submerged or waterlogged. February was the fourth wettest since records began in 1871 in England, with a rainfall total of 130mm representing 225% of the 1961 to 1990 long-term average, and there have been 10 named storms in recent months.
CLA President Victoria Vyvyan said the fund announcement was welcome but growers need it to open as soon as possible because the impact on their businesses had been ‘profound’, while a reduction in domestic food production may lead to an increase in imports and prices.
“Farmers are dynamic and forward-thinking and are used to working with extreme weather, but the last few months have been especially difficult. The winter rainfall is pushing businesses to their limit and many fear for this entire cropping season,” she said.
Landowners don’t receive compensation when the Environment Agency effectively floods their fields to protect downstream houses and villages, despite the harm to their crops and the CLA is calling for more support to repair the damage.
Victoria said: “Years of poor management of watercourses and flood defences by the Environment Agency, often caused by lack of resources, means farmers are still unfairly shouldering the burden of flooding devastation. Farming businesses are willing to help protect homes and businesses from flooding by storing floodwater, but in turn there should be recognition of the added burdens on farmers with appropriate compensation.”
