A motion was unanimously agreed by Herefordshire Council that will look at ways to support new farm infrastructure like reservoirs and help businesses adapt to the changing climate, manage water and ensure food security is not eroded.
The motion came after the NFU held a series of on-farm events in September with councillors to look at barriers to growth, sector challenges, food production, diversification, environmental management and industry opportunities.
Help navigating planning process
Councillor Ed O’Driscoll put the motion forward on 9 October which was seconded by Councillor Kevin Tillet and backed by council colleagues.
The authority will look at setting up a water security roundtable group with the NFU, and other measures to help farms navigate the planning process for water storage.
Catherine Hinds, NFU Herefordshire county adviser, said farmers and growers were pleased to see the motion backed unanimously by councillors of all parties.
She said: “We had constructive talks when we welcomed Councillor O’Driscoll and others out on Herefordshire farms a few weeks ago to discuss the challenges and opportunities on the ground and business resilience going forward.
“We look forward to the council’s findings and further discussion that will make a difference on our farms as we look to produce food and manage the countryside.”
The motion said the authority notes “the significant challenges faced by Herefordshire farmers and growers following the prolonged periods of extreme heat and dry weather this summer, highlighting the importance of reliable access to water for the resilience of our farming sector and the food it produces”.
“Water remains vital for us all and for food production - this is a positive step.”
NFU Herefordshire County Adviser, Catherine Hinds
Adding the council “recognises that increasing on-farm water storage can improve resilience, but that the cost and complexity of planning, regulation and construction can present significant barriers.”
New water roundtable
Councillors agreed to convene Herefordshire Agricultural Water Security Roundtable, bringing together a representative group of local farmers and growers, the NFU, CLA, Herefordshire Rural Hub, the Environment Agency, water companies and others.
This group will look at the principle barriers to improving agricultural water resilience and where the authority and its partners can most effectively assist.
A review of recent agricultural reservoir and water-storage applications in Herefordshire will be looked at to identify unnecessary costs, delays, uncertainty or complexity with a view to learning from schemes that have successfully progressed through the planning system.
Farm reservoir pathway
The motion also asked for the council to explore the creation of a clearly signposted farm-reservoir planning pathway to provide farmers with greater clarity about planning and environmental requirements at an early stage.
This would also help with any appropriate schemes navigating through the planning process as efficiently as possible.
Councillor O’Driscoll had also asked for the council to consider opportunities to reduce the financial barriers faced by farmers developing water storage schemes.
This includes identifying available national or external funding, grants and support, and considering whether earlier or better coordinated planning advice and other practical assistance could help reduce costs on bringing appropriate schemes forward.
The NFU was also pleased to see agricultural water resilience included to inform the emerging Herefordshire Local Plan, taking into account evidence and recommendations which are to be gathered following the motion.
Herefordshire Council has said it will report the findings and recommendations by 5 March including actions that can reasonably be taken locally and changes which require representations to government, regulators or other bodies.
Farm supply threatened by competition
Potato farmer Will Watkins, Herefordshire NFU county chair, said it was a motion of good intent and if it helped to reduce barriers for farm businesses in agriculture and horticulture it was welcome, including driving efficiency in the planning process.
The Kingstone farmer said: “Farmers’ ability to feed a growing population, produce healthy crops and maintain animal health and welfare, relies on access to a secure water supply.
“However, this supply is being increasingly threatened by growing competition for water, severe weather events, and ageing and inadequate infrastructure.
“As a result, water availability is becoming a binding constraint on our farmers and growers.
“While public water supply and other nationally significant infrastructure benefit from strategic water resource planning, agriculture does not.
“In Herefordshire, our farmers and growers have responded by forming the Herefordshire Water Abstraction Group.
The NFU has said that to help farms cope with weather extremes resilience to climate volatility needs strengthening alongside long-term investment in water infrastructure, including reservoirs and other ways of storing water on farm.
“With the right strategic support from both national and local government, the farming industry can build new infrastructure, adapt to changing climate, and effectively manage finite water resources, ensuring the nation’s food security is not eroded whilst stewarding the countryside.”
NFU Herefordshire County Chair, Will Watkins
Farming and growing businesses need to be able to collect and store surplus water when they have too much for use at times of shortage.