More than 150 farmers have been able to resume water abstraction after the NFU raised their case with the Environment Agency. Restrictions were lifted for the growers affected by an abstraction cessation order in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The NFU said it was working to find a solution for a further 90 farmers who have not had restrictions lifted.
The NFU is also continuing its calls for the agency to work with the farming community to deliver long-term solutions to ensure farmers and growers have guaranteed access to water during dry periods for the sake of national food security.
Extreme weather
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “This was a huge and very immediate concern for many of our members, who are already having great challenges due to the extreme dry weather we have been experiencing. We are pleased to have been able to work collaboratively with the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Board to find a quick solution for some members. We will work with those members who have not had restrictions lifted.
It was vital to continue to work with the government and Environment Agency to find long-term solutions to increasing extreme weather incidents, said Ms Hallos. “This problem will not just go away,” she added.
Limited licences
The move comes after the NFU called for an urgent meeting with the Environment Agency in-mid July. Farmers in the Cam and Ely Ouse catchments were in prolonged dry status, with many already voluntarily reducing abstraction. Growers said they had been anticipating further restrictions but were surprised to be told they would no longer have access to vital water for their crops when notices of cessation of abstraction licences were issued.
The Internal Drainage Board confirmed it would be able to add more water into the system, with new restrictions will be put in place allowing irrigation at night on a temporary two-week basis pending a review.
Ms Hallos said: “I completely understand the importance of public access to water and the environmental protection that is needed, and we need to work together to find long-term solutions for everybody’s needs. The scale of the problems we are seeing due to the dry weather on farms on the ground is horrendous. It is costing farm businesses enormous sums of money and some businesses will never be able to recover. This will threaten food security.
“We need to fix this because we could be in this situation again. There is huge pressure on water in this country. It’s about the bigger picture, storing the water when it rains for future use. We need to ensure that agriculture’s voice is heard.”
Water availability
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Prolonged dry weather continues to affect East Anglia. Low river levels and dry conditions means we have had to apply temporary abstraction restrictions in the South Level of the Fens.
These pre-agreed abstraction licence conditions are there to protect the environment and the rights of other abstractors. We are working with the NFU, Internal Drainage Boards, and local farmers to manage water availability.
“In future we can expect to see prolonged dry weather more frequently, so we encourage abstractors to make their business as resilient as possible and ask water users to use water wisely.”