Drainage contractors can look forward to having a stronger political voice according to the National Association of Agricultural Contractors, following a merger with the Land Drainage Contractors Association.

The NAAC says drainage contractors will reap the benefits of being part of a larger organisation, while retaining their lobbying power.

Several issues are now firmly on the radar for the new NAAC Land Drainage, including promoting the benefits of land drainage to increase crop yields and mitigate flood risk.

See also: NAAC farm contractor charges 2018-19

An estimated 90% of drainage work in the UK carried out by contractors.

Training courses and technical seminars, as well as updated codes of best practice on land drainage, will be available soon on the NAAC website.

The agreement sees the associations reunited after the LDCA broke away from the NAAC in 1984.