Farmers across the UK are warning that their livelihoods are under serious threat as delays in compensation payments following severe weather continue to mount.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has criticised the Government for its slow response, leaving many farmers struggling with the financial burden caused by unseasonable storms and flooding earlier this year.
Tom Bradshaw, chief executive of the NFU, stated that flood recovery payments, designed to alleviate the costs of restoring damaged farms, have been delayed for many applicants. This comes after the expansion of the Farming Recovery Fund, which offers grants of up to £25,000 to support farmers affected by uninsurable damage to their land.
The fund, initially launched in response to January’s storms, was expanded in May. However, many farmers have yet to see the funds they urgently need to repair their livelihoods.
Tim Bamford, regional director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), added that poor management of watercourses and flood defences, coupled with a lack of resources, has exacerbated the challenges farmers face. “Farmers are unfairly shouldering the burden,” Bamford said, highlighting how fields are often sacrificed to protect downstream communities, with no compensation provided for the damage caused.
NFU vice president Rachel Hallos emphasised the broader impact, warning that consumers could also feel the effects of these delays, as produce may fail to reach markets.
The Government, through Defra, has acknowledged the difficulties faced by the farming community and has pointed to ongoing efforts to improve flood resilience through its investment programmes
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