Help us highlight the impact of flooding

20 November 2023

Environment and climate
Flooded rural landscape

Following the devastation caused by Storms Babet and Ciarán, more than 1,750 people have added their names to our open letter urging all political parties to outline their plans to protect farming businesses from flooding.

Our letter called for:

  • A proactive management plan for Environment Agency controlled watercourses and flood defences as a priority.
  • Changes to the Flood Defence Grant in Aid cost-benefit analysis. The way that funding for flood defences is currently allocated leaves farmers and rural communities at a higher risk than urban communities.
  • Recognition of the public goods farmers deliver. Flood storage is often provided at great cost to the landowner to protect surrounding urban areas. Farmers must be fairly paid for delivering this service with agreements put in place that allow farmers and growers to plan for it and ensure recovery procedures are in place.

The NFU will now deliver this message of urgency to Westminster to show that farmers demand immediate policy action and need a clear plan for the future to protect against flooding.

We still need your help to continue to show first-hand the damage caused by flooding.

If you have experienced flooding on farm recently, please share any images of this with us using the form below:

Please tell us who you are

Please share your e-mail address with us. By submitting this form you are consenting to us using the information you have provided to contact you.

Please tell us the county in which the flooding occurred.

Please upload any images of recent flooding that you have experienced on farm.

Permitted file types: .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif

Deliver solutions for the future

The letter followed weeks of devasting flooding which left vast areas of farmland underwater.

NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw visited several affected farms in the North and Midlands, one of which has been left underwater four times in the past five years.

The NFU renewed its calls for the government to implement a comprehensive water management strategy as a matter of urgency.

“In the past few weeks, we have once more seen hundreds of farms across the country face the devastation of flooding and the huge financial stress and misery that brings,” said Tom.

“It stems from a failure to get to grips with the challenges of managing watercourses and improving and maintaining our flood defences. 

Tom Bradshaw

We need to see urgent action to tackle this issue.”

NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw

“Many farmers play a crucial role protecting nearby towns and villages from flooding by holding water on their land but with ruined crops uninsurable and huge clear up costs, farmers and growers must be fairly rewarded for this public good they provide.

“With climate change one of our biggest challenges, it’s inevitable that storms will become more frequent and heavy rainfall will become more prevalent. That’s why we need to see urgent action to tackle this issue.”

The Deputy President called on political parties to take urgent action now to ensure the success of long-term plans.

NFU members, join our Environment and climate community to comment


Ask us a question about this page

Once you have submitted your query someone from NFU CallFirst will contact you. If needed, your query will then be passed to the appropriate NFU policy team.

You have 0 characters remaining.

By completing the form with your details on this page, you are agreeing to have this information sent to the NFU for the purposes of contacting you regarding your enquiry. Please take time to read the NFU’s Privacy Policy if you require further information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.