Suffolk's weather-battered farmers face more field floods

After being battered by Storm Babet two weeks ago followed by Storm Ciaran this week, many farmers' fields are flooded or saturated with water.

The wet conditions have put some newly-planted crops at risk and has meant farmers have not been able to get onto their land to harvest crops such as sugar beet and potatoes.

At the same time, their window for planting further winter crops before it becomes too cold is rapidly diminishing.

The county's farmers became the unofficial emergency service during Storm Babet, rescuing children and adults stuck in the floods.

At the same time, their own operations have been put under strain - although they are used to dealing with adverse weather conditions.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has called for all political parties to set out plans to protect farmland.

In an open letter to the Environment Agency, it has called on the Environment Agency to provide a proactive plan for the watercourses and flood defences it manages.

It wants government to pay farmers for the role they play in protecting homes and businesses when rivers breach their banks - and wants changes in the Flood Defence Grant in Aid cost-benefit analysis so small, rural communities aren't disadvantaged.

NFU regional policy manager for the East Charles Hesketh said: “Areas of Norfolk and Suffolk experienced extreme flooding issues following Storm Babet with farmers’ fields, stores and livelihoods effectively providing a floodplain because of years of under investment and maintenance of watercourses, flood defences and storm drains.

“During this time of crisis we saw our farmers rise to the challenge to help local communities protect their homes, and rescue stranded cars especially in heavily affected areas such as Debenham which still has roads underwater.”

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw - who farms near Colchester - said farmers were experiencing more and more extreme weather - and climate change meant this trend would continue.

“I have been out to meet NFU members and have seen first-hand the destruction and financial stress caused by flooding to farmers’ businesses and their homes.

"Despite promises made during each catastrophic flooding event, repeated governments of all parties have failed to get to grips with the challenge of managing watercourses and flooding."

He added: “There are tangible things that can be done now to adapt. For example, maintaining existing flood defences and paying farmers for the public good they provide by holding floodwater on their land."

Suffolk NFU chairman Andrew Blenkiron - director of the Euston Estate near Thetford - had to swim out to rescue stranded sheep trapped by the flood.

The flood meadows at Euston provided a useful function in holding water back from places like Thetford and Euston village, he said.

There were grant subsidy schemes available but these were limited, he suggested, although flood meadows were forming part of thinking around various landscape recovery schemes.

"Potentially what we are looking at going forward is getting payment for flood meadows and things like that," he said.

More farm reservoirs to take in the excess water during flood events could also help alleviate flooding, he suggested.