Farmers and growers will not share in the EU flooding fund set up for damage caused by the flooding during summer 2007, despite suffering losses worth millions of pounds, says the National Farmers’ Union.

The EU Commission has announced €162.4 million (£128.3m) from the European Solidarity Fund to help deal with the “consequences of devastating floods” that hit the UK last summer.

However, the NFU is angered none of this money will find its way to helping farmers and growers who had homes ruined, crops destroyed and livestock put at risk. Vice-president Paul Temple has spoken with farmers across the country who lost crops and suffered severe economic damage.

“Farmers and growers bore significant costs and disruption during last summer’s floods, with estimates of almost 50,000 hectares being flooded”, he said.

“While the EU’s announcement of €162m is obviously welcome for the nation as a whole, it again highlights the totally inadequate assistance made available to farmers and growers last summer.

“While farm businesses suffered losses of up to £250,000, help was limited to £2,500. Farmers are seeking recognition of the problems that occurred and are looking for local solutions to be found.

“We hope Sir Michael Pitt, in his report on the summer floods to be published on Wednesday (June 25), will recommend increased help following the flooding of last summer.”

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