With the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) stark warning that over half of England’s top quality agricultural land is at risk of flooding, the NFU is calling on the government to prioritise investment in water management in the upcoming Spending Review.
The National Audit Office Resilience to Flooding report identified a continuous shortfall in Environment Agency flooding maintenance funding, and rural areas felt the devastating impact of this throughout 2024 as farmers were hit by relentless rain in one of the wettest years on record. Even now, many farms affected are still trying to recover from the damage to their land and their businesses.
That is why the NFU is asking the Chancellor in her Spending Review to establish a long-term investment plan to improve the UK’s failing flooding infrastructure, with funding allocations which recognise rural needs.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The impact of climate change is clear for all to see. Last year we experienced one of the most challenging growing seasons in living memory with thousands of acres of farmland under water early in the year. Even now, more than 12 months on and during the warmest week of the year so far, farm businesses are still working to recover.
“Not only does flooding cause significant damage to people’s properties and livelihoods, it also puts the UK’s food production at risk.
“Recovering from flood damage comes at a huge cost to the taxpayer. Climate extremes are not going away and we need to be investing in the maintenance and expansion of our flooding defences now to minimise damage in the future.”
