The government has announced it will extend its Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers badly affected by the recent flooding across Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Flood-hit farmers in northern England will be able to apply for up to £25,000 in government grants to help them get back on their feet.
Through this scheme, farmers and land managers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their property will be able to apply for grants of between £500 and £25,000 to cover repair costs – whether that’s clearing debris or recovering damaged land.
The Met Office says the UK received 109% (138.8 mm) of its average rainfall in October.
According to Defra, there are currently 45 flood warnings and 122 flood alerts in place and there is increased predicted rainfall over parts of the country.
The NFU says the next government and its agencies should develop long-term strategic plans to mitigate future flood risk and better manage water.
NFU President Minette Batters said: “Any future domestic agricultural policy must ensure there are measures in place for farm businesses to manage volatility, particularly in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather.
“We also want to see adequate funding available to enable us to have the right resources to take on the enormous challenge and opportunities of future UK water management.
“The UK has £20bn of flood defence assets yet too little is being spent on upkeep – this spending must be increased.
“We’re starting to see breaches of flood embankments, just like the recent incident at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire. This needs to be looked at urgently.”