DEFRA decision on waterlogged land helps flood-hit farmers and growers

Defra"e;s announcement of a temporary suspension of the rules governing the work farmers can do on waterlogged land will help farmers and growers who are battling to get crops in from saturated fields, the NFU said today.

The NFU wrote to Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn last week seeking a derogation from GAEC3 rules up to the first week of October as a matter of urgency. NFU Cymru has also written to the Welsh Assembly Government asking for a similar derogation for arable farmers.

Ian Backhouse, NFU combinable crops board chairman, said: "No one expects Defra to influence the weather, but we are encouraged the Secretary of State has responded to the appalling conditions faced by many of our members again this harvest. This action removes one barrier to gathering in the remaining crop and the threat of fines levelled on farmers for bringing home crops while soils are wet.

"It is the natural inclination of farmers to look after the soils that support their livelihoods and the NFU encourages its members to record the effects of harvesting in difficult conditions and what steps were taken later to rectify affected fields.

"Farmers do not want to leave crops out any longer than is absolutely necessary at this time of year when days are shortening, temperatures are falling, and soils are becoming wetter, and they will be encountering considerable extra costs through having to dry wet crops.

"Even feed grade cereal crops will now be suffering in terms of yield loss as germinating grain (sprouting) and grain shedding from standing crops becomes an issue across more and more of the country."