Your Somerset county NFU update

Severe drought has been declared in parts Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, this means additional steps are being taken to safeguard water supply. The Environment Agency has been tasked with undertaking increased inspection of abstractions licences for businesses to ensure they remain under their permit. Water companies will undertake increased monitoring of reservoir and river levels as well as water quality testing. 

NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: “British farmers and growers know all too well the impact extreme weather is having on their businesses and ability to produce the nation’s food.

"The declaration of severe drought across parts of the country reflects the challenging conditions we continue to face with drought. We will continue to work to understand what any measures introduced will mean for agricultural businesses and advocate for increased access for water when it is available to refill reservoirs.

“To safeguard domestic food production, it is vital we strengthen our resilience to an increasingly volatile climate. Government must provide clarity on Water Management Grants to support the construction of on-farm reservoirs and remove unnecessary planning barriers, so more farm businesses can invest in this key infrastructure as they produce food for 29 million households.”

You can read more on NFU Online: National Drought Group update – severe drought declared in parts of England – NFUonline

Or on GOV.UK: Government activates plan to protect consumers as severe drought declared in parts of England - GOV.UK

Members of the NFU recently welcomed Gideon Amos MP to the Hebditch family's farm at Lillesdon, Taunton, for a valuable discussion on the issues currently affecting farmers and rural communities across Somerset.

The visit provided an opportunity for local farmers to share their experiences and concerns directly with their MP, helping him gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the agricultural sector and strengthening his ability to represent rural interests in debates within the House of Commons.

A wide range of topics were discussed, including Sustainable Farming Incentives 2026, Bluetongue disease, flooding, the £50 million farm grant scheme, planning matters, rural crime with a particular focus on fly-tipping, agricultural inflation, and the growing pressures associated with drought and reservoir capacity. Farmers highlighted the practical impact these issues are having on businesses, food production, and the wider rural economy.

The meeting demonstrated the importance of maintaining a strong dialogue between policymakers and those working on the ground, ensuring that the realities of farming are clearly understood and represented at a national level.

The NFU would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Hebditch family for kindly hosting the meeting at their farm, and to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. By sharing local experiences and concerns, attendees helped build a stronger and more informed foundation for future parliamentary debates on the issues that matter most to rural communities.

North Somerset farmers met with MP Sadik Al-Hassan on Friday 9 October to discuss a range of issues currently affecting local agricultural businesses.

Discussions covered the closure of the SFI26 Window 2, bovine TB control measures, testing and compensation arrangements, and the importance of APR and BPR inheritance tax reliefs for family farming businesses. 

We also discussed the importance of food security and farm profitability, including support for the proposed Keep British Growing Loan, which could help provide much-needed cash flow support to struggling farm businesses.

The meeting provided an important opportunity to ensure that the views of North Somerset farmers were heard directly by their local MP and to emphasise the importance of a thriving and productive agricultural sector. 

Farmers in Somerset have been tackling the impacts of flooding for decades. January 2026 was one of the wettest since the floods of 2014. The NFU welcomed the Water Minister Emma Hardy's announcement of £50 million of investment in flood resilience in June.

This funding recognises both the significant challenges the county has faced and the vital importance of protecting agricultural land, family farm businesses, and rural communities from the increasing threat of flooding.

The NFU understands this funding has been drawn from the Farming and Countryside Programme, therefore we would like to see all funded activities providing direct and demonstrable benefits that support the long-term viability of farming businesses.

Flooding of productive agricultural land can have far-reaching consequences for domestic food production, food processing, transport routes, fuel supplies, livestock welfare, water management, environmental outcomes and local economic resilience.

On average flooding cost affected farmers around £40,000, in the last 10 years, 56% of NFU members saw an increase in frequency of flooding according to the The impact of climate change on farming – NFU 10-year weather survey – NFUonline.

The NFU is calling for a clear strategic direction for effective climate change adaptation in agriculture, with this commitment reflected explicitly in policy across all levels of government. We are also calling for a clear and accessible framework that ensures farmers and landowners are involved at an early stage and fairly compensated where their land is used to store floodwater or deliver natural flood management measures.

Farmland can provide a vital public service by holding water and helping to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure. However, this should be planned collaboratively, with the agreement of the affected farmers and landowners, and supported by appropriate long-term management and payment arrangements.

We have welcomed the opportunity to participate in Somerset Council's flood funding programme advisory group. A collaborative approach offers the best opportunity to protect productive farmland and rural communities.

However, we would encourage Somerset Council to thoroughly engage with the local farming community, ensuring that all farming sectors across Somersets watercourses are able to feed in to the programme and individual projects. Farmers are at the frontline of flood impacts, and their knowledge of land management, watercourses, and local conditions will be critical in shaping effective solutions.

The programme’s delivery timetable is likely to be one of its greatest challenges. It is essential that the funding is spent effectively and that projects are not delayed by unnecessary administrative processes. We would welcome clear guidance and transparent decision-making to help ensure that projects are delivered on budget and on time, with the support and early involvement of affected farmers and landowners.

We will continue to work with Somerset Council and partners to ensure funding is strategically spent to work towards securing a more flood resilient Somerset long term.

Bluetounge season has begun, with several  cases being reported recently in Somerset and Devon. Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it (remember it is a notifiable disease).

You can find the latest information about outbreaks, and guidance about what to do, on the NFU website.