UK food production at threat after extreme flooding

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:58:17 GMT
BBC News - Science & Environment

Record-breaking rainfall leaves fields under water, threatening this year's harvest yield and...

The flooding and extreme weather linked to climate change will undermine UK food production unless farmers get more help, the National Farmers Union said.

The NFU is calling on the government to do more to compensate flooded farmers and support domestic food production.

NFU vice president Rachel Hallos said UK farmers were "On the front line of climate change - one of the biggest threats to UK food security".

Debbie Wilkins is a mixed dairy, beef and arable farmer, with much of her 900 acres of land at Norton Court Farm, near Gloucester, lying in the floodplain.

Debbie, whose family have farmed there since 1936, said the land used to flood every six years when she was young, but had flooded three times last year and six times already this year.

If the bad weather continues, livestock may have to be sold off and jobs on the farm cut.

Earlier this week, the government launched its Farm Recovery Fund, offering grants of between £500 and £25,000 to farmers in some parts of England who have suffered uninsurable flooding damage to their land.

Farming minister Mark Spencer said: "This means that farmers will be able to receive payments for all land parcels which are flooded contiguous to an eligible river."We'll continue to listen to farmers and look at how we can expand the scheme and improve support for those affected.

Dead lambs and 'decimated crops' on rain-soaked farms.

Flood-hit farmers won't get new mental health help.

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