Farmers need to be consulted and paid properly for the use of their land if they are to be of help to prevent flooding, the NFU have said.
The NFU launched their Flood Manifesto which urged the government to adopt a 'plan, protect' pay' strategy for flood risk management.
NFU deputy president Minette Batters said agriculture is often at the mercy of extreme and changeable weather.
"This winter has again thrown up a number of severe storms," she said.
"Just weeks ago forecasters predicted a storm surge up and down the east coast. This demonstrates clearly why government and its agencies must have the necessary long-term plans in place, including the right financial resources."
"British farming provides the raw ingredients for an industry worth £108bn to the UK economy, which also provides 3.9m jobs.
"It’s the bedrock of the food industry, feeding the nation and playing a part in feeding the world. Some of our most productive and highest value agricultural land lies in floodplains or coastal regions vulnerable to flooding and deserves to be protected.
"In short, the Government’s strategy to manage future flood risk must be to plan, protect and pay."
'Crucially important'
Farming in the North was among the worst hit in the Storm Desmond floods.
NFU North East Environment Adviser James Copeland said: "The region has a long history of flood events, but through working collaboratively with land managers, local and national authorities, emergency services and communities we can find a solution to reduce flood risk that benefit everyone.
"We want to see more joint working as we plan for long-term challenges - an approach that will include more decisions at a local level, including devolving responsibilities to Internal Drainage Boards where the Environment Agency is no longer fully funded to carry out maintenance.
"There also needs to be proper assessment of the value of agriculture when looking at flood management.
"This is crucially important across the North East, where highly productive farmland is at risk of flooding.
"And where agricultural land is part of the solution to flooding, by providing flood water storage or slowing the flow, this must be planned, agreed and paid for."
