More must be done to ensure farmers have availability to adequate water, the NFU has warned. Much of the country remains in drought following last summer. In fact, some 68% of NFU members say that they’ve seen an increase in drought – and 56% say they’ve seen an increase in flooding in the last 10 years.
An NFU survey also shows that of those farmers whose businesses were impacted by severe weather events, 47% reported financial losses of at least £10,000, with 12% reporting losses of over £100,000.
The union says it shows that there is still more to be done to address significant water challenges that impact farmers’ ability to produce food for the nation, particularly the critical issues of water availability, as well as water quality.
“In all my years farming I can’t remember a time when we’ve been worried about drought in December,” said NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos.
“While farmers and growers are out the fields, sheds and glasshouses to make sure the food and flowers get to supermarket shelves in time for Christmas, it’s a real concern that water availability could be difficult in the year ahead.”
Working together
Fluctuating extremes of dry weather and flooding was having a knock-on effect on farm businesses, said Ms Hallos “It is essential that farmers and growers have resilience built into their businesses to weather these impacts.”
In the past six months, the NFU had helped establish a Water Abstractor Group in Shropshire, with further interest being expressed by members in Kent, West Suffolk, Cambridge, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
It had also convened meetings with Water Summit partners on planning systems – a key area identified in supporting necessary infrastructure improvements on farms for reservoirs and slurry storage – and on supply chain collaboration.
“There is still more to be done,” said Ms Hallos. “It is vital that government, local authorities, water companies, environmental NGOs and the supply chain work together collaboratively to ensure farmers and growers have access to a clean supply of water to safeguard UK’s food security.”