CLA responds to reports that support for flood-hit farmers could be cut
It would come at the worst possible time, says President
The CLA has responded to reports that support for flood-hit farmers could be cut, as many gear up for another winter of extreme weather.
A story in the national media this week said decisions about how much money could be paid to farmers for last year's floods were being held up because of the spending review, and that cuts were on the table.
In the spring the previous government opened the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers whose land had suffered uninsurable damage, with grants of between £500 to £25,000 to cover recultivation costs, after it was initially announced in early January following Storm Henk. It was then expanded in May, just before the election was called, with £50m earmarked.
Some early claimants received money in the summer, but others are still waiting for the financial support.
'Already struggling'
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:
“Compensation delays have left thousands of farmers to bear the burden of flooding alone. Rural communities are already struggling, and this is tightening cash flow when it matters most.
"As climate change worsens, flooding will become more common. The government must quickly compensate those affected by Storm Henk and create lasting solutions, like paying farmers to store water on their land. Without action, farmers will keep paying for a problem they didn’t create.”
New partnership
It comes as a new partnership involving the CLA has launched to improve the resilience of rural communities and businesses to flooding.
The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership unites the CLA with five other organisations – Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA), the Environment Agency, Natural England, and the NFU.