Somerset farmers battle worsening flood crisis

Somerset farmers are fighting to save crops and livestock after weeks of relentless rain left large swathes of the Levels underwater, cutting off access routes and turning productive farmland into temporary lakes.

James Winslade, a fifth-generation beef farmer at West Yeo Farm near Bridgwater, described his farm as effectively marooned.

“The flooding is not as bad as 2014 – yet, but it’s really bad,” he said.

See also: Persistent rain threatens crops and farmers’ livelihoods

“It’s a slow-creeping flood. This water will be here for a month and a half or more.

“Everything dies after being under water. It’s devastating for wildlife. It also has a massive impact on farmers’ mental health.”

Flood defences

Farmers warn that with climate change making extreme rainfall more frequent, urgent investment in permanent flood defences is needed to protect livelihoods and the land itself.

Mr Winslade joined environment minister Emma Hardy, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke, representatives from the Environment Agency (EA) and Somerset Rivers Authority to survey the damage firsthand this week.

“We all agreed that permanent infrastructure is necessary,” he said.

Mark Humphry, Somerset NFU county chairman and dairy farmer at Isle Brewers, south Somerset, reported more than 12ha of lost crops.

“Winter forage stocks are running very low after last summer’s drought.

“The hoped-for early turnout is not going to happen, and silage and straw are scarce and expensive,” he said.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has warned winter floods cost farmers an average of £480/ha, with arable and horticultural losses even higher.

CLA president Gavin Lane said: “After an incredibly dry summer that produced poor yields and no profit, this extended period of heavy rain is the last thing we need.”

NI farm pressures

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) highlighted similar pressures in Northern Ireland, where saturated ground has left slurry spreading unsafe.

UFU deputy president John McLenaghan said: “Farmers are resilient, but resilience isn’t unlimited.

“With practical support, they can manage through this period, but storage and environmental pressures are serious.”

The Met Office forecast further unsettled weather across the West Country until mid-February, with heavy rain likely to worsen flooding.

On Wednesday (11 February), the EA had issued 84 flood warnings and 150 alerts across England, with temporary pumps running non-stop on the Somerset Levels to channel water from fields into the rivers.