The farmer, who is in his 80s, is legally responsible for clearing the rubbish and facing an estimated bill of between £40,000 and £50,000, despite being the victim of the crime.
He said he could not afford to pay the money, and a fundraising campaign was launched by a member of the public who read the story in the national press.
The NFU has been pushing the farmer’s case in the media and engaging with MPs, Police and Crime Commissioners, police leaders, councillors and the Environment Agency since the fly-tip happened on a farm in St Albans last summer.
More than six months on the rubbish, which includes toxic waste as well as roofing material, bathroom and kitchen fittings and household items, is still rotting in the field.
More than 1,600 donations
Archie Ford decided to set up a Crowdfunding page after reading the heart-breaking story. He set a target of £45,000.
By 18 February, three days after the campaign was launched, more than £50,000 had been raised through more than 1,600 individual donations.
The St Albans farmer, who is an NFU member and who wants to remain anonymous, said: “I am absolutely blown away by the support we have had.
“A huge thanks to Archie for launching the campaign and everyone who has donated. We have also been awarded £3,000 through the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Fund, which is much appreciated.”
The farmer said he has been given different quotes for the cost of clearing the rubbish, ranging from £40,000 to close to £50,000.
Mr Ford, who lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire said: “I could not believe it when I read that this farmer could face prosecution if he fails to pay this huge amount of money to clear this mess, when he is the victim of the crime.
"Outrageous and an enormous injustice"
“I did not know that farmers are legally responsible for paying to clear rubbish dumped on their land or how massive an issue fly-tipping has become.
“After reading the article I educated myself on this issue and I think it is outrageous and an enormous injustice.”
Mr Ford, who does not personally know the victim and is not from a farming background, added: “I just felt so strongly after reading this and felt that I had to do something to help.
“I have huge respect and admiration for our farmers and the work they do, and I know they are already facing some difficult challenges as it is.
“I think the fact that so many people have supported this campaign is amazing. This shows how much this story resonates with people and how strongly people feel about the injustice this man, and other farmers, are facing.”
The NFU says that fly-tipping costs the industry tens of millions of pounds a year in clear up costs, damages the environment, harms wildlife and scars the countryside.
£1 billion cost of fly-tipping
In a recent debate in the House of Lords, it was said the waste crime costs the economy more than £1bn a year, while House of Lords members said fly-tipping is out of control and the government acknowledged that urgent change is needed in the way the crime is being dealt with.
The NFU is calling for all authorities with responsibility for tackling fly-tipping to work closely together to secure more arrests and convictions and for penalties to be more proportionate, reflecting the impact of the crime.
A simple reporting mechanism needs to be developed so that farmers and land managers only have to report a fly-tipping incident once. Currently victims may have to report incidents to multiple authorities, which is time consuming, confusing and frustrating.
The NFU believes the government and waste sector must do more to raise awareness of householders’ responsibilities for their waste. Too much householder waste falls into the hands of third parties who then fly-tip that material.
The fundraising page will remain open to donations until 18 March 18 and, at the request of the St Albans farmer, money raised after the clearance on his farm has been paid for, will be used to support other victims of fly-tipping.
People can donate by going to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hertfordshire-farmer