Veg growers among those receiving payments for land-recovery activities
Farmers and growers have received payments totalling £57.5 million from the Farming Recovery Fund so far, the government has confirmed.
Around 13,000 farmers and growers were impacted by severe wet weather, including Storms Henk and Babet, between last October and March, with more than 12,700 recovery payments ranging from £2,895 - £25,000 now being made.
They are one-off recovery payments which will support land-recovery activities such as soil remediation, recultivation and the removal of any debris caused by flooding.
Defra said the vast majority (95 per cent) of eligible farm businesses have now received their payments after the funding was confirmed two weeks ago on 13 November. Outstanding payments will continue to be made.
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: “In two weeks we have paid over £57mn to farms affected by devastating flooding – £10mn more than the previous government.
”However, we are going further by investing £5 billion for the farming budget over two years – with the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our country’s history. This demonstrates this government’s steadfast commitment to farmers.”
The government also recently confirmed that £50mn would be distributed to internal drainage boards (IDBs), the public bodies responsible for managing water levels for agricultural and environmental needs in a particular area.
