Months of extreme rainfall have caused a “growing crisis” for British farmers.
The National Farmers’ Union said “relentless heavy rains have left large areas of farmland saturated and, in many cases, underwater”.
Continuous downpours since October 2023 have rendered some fields unusable, destroying already planted crops.
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More than 20 flood warnings are currently in force, indicating flooding is expected.
NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos warned that UK agricultural business was under “significant pressure” and said the financial situation of many of the union’s members was worrying.
She added: “It is no exaggeration to say that a crisis is shaping up. While farmers are bearing the brunt of the crisis now, consumers are likely to see the effects of the crisis throughout the year as produce never leaves the farm gate.”
last week, new characters Met Office data shows that England suffered record rainfall in the 18 months to March 2024.
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Analysts at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) said this meant the UK would import “historically high” amounts of wheat over the next 12 months.
Germany is an important source of wheat for the UK, but it also suffered widespread flooding after “record levels of rainfall” between November and February.
AHDB analysts describe weather conditions on the continent as a “key watch” over the coming weeks, as further rain could ultimately push prices higher here.
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The Agricultural Recovery Fund, launched yesterday, offers grants of up to £25,000 to restore land affected by recent storms.
While the NFU initially welcomed the news, it now fears there will be “significant issues” with the policy.
Ms Hallos said: “We have heard from many catastrophically impacted members who have been told they are not eligible for the fund because some affected areas are more than 150m (492ft) away from ‘main’ rivers.
“These include members with 90 per cent of their land saturated or underwater, as well as extensive damage to buildings and equipment.”
The union said it was raising the concerns with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a matter of urgency.
When the fund was announced, Agriculture Secretary Mark Spencer said: “I know how difficult this winter has been for farmers, with extreme weather such as Storm Genk having a devastating impact on cropping and grazing, and damaging Property and Equipment”.
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