DEFRA urges flooded farms to use emergency fund

DEFRA has urged farmers whose businesses have been directly affected by flooding to make use of the £10m Farming Recovery Fund.

The fund was announced on 11 February by prime minister David Cameron and opened to applications on Friday 28 February.

DEFRA has repeated calls for farmers to make use of the money, which provides assistance with four key areas of recovery:

• Restoration of productive grassland
• Restoration of productive arable and horticultural land
• Restoring farm vehicle access to fields
• Improvements to agricultural drainage

See also more on the winter floods

All farmers affected by the flooding will be able to apply for emergency funding of up to £5,000, covering up to 100% of their business costs.

The majority of the recovery fund will be reserved for farms that remain flooded. Unlike the initial grant, the upper limit of this funding will be set when the effect on these longer-term losses from flood damage are clearer, once the flood waters recede.

Farm minister George Eustice said: “We want to help farmers affected by flooding and the severe weather to get their businesses back on track as soon as possible. The new £10m Farming Recovery Fund has been set up to help farmers directly affected meet short-term costs as the flood waters recede.

“Additionally, the £10m Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will offer eligible farmers grants of up to £35,000 on schemes designed to make businesses more resilient.”

Fund information

Designed with the NFU and local councils, the Farming Recovery Fund will be simple and easy for farmers to apply for through a single point of contact in DEFRA’s Rural Development Team, by emailing frf@defra.gsi.gov.uk or calling 0300 060 2700. Funding will open on Friday 28 February.