Farmers affected by recent flooding in parts of East and North Yorkshire can apply for a share of a new £6m extension of the Farming Recovery Fund.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the measure today as it responds further to last month’s severe flooding.
As well as parts of Yorkshire, the support is also will be available for affected farmers in areas of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire.
Meanwhile, the Government has also confirmed that it is pursuing plans through Parliament to to relax the crop diversification requirements known as the “three crop rule” for farmers for 2020, as farmers in flooded areas have suggested they will have difficulty complying with the rule this year.
The three crop rule requires farmers managing more than 30 hectares of arable land to grow at least three different crops. Farmers with smaller land-holdings are also subject to crop diversification requirements.
According to Defra, an amendment will be made for Parliament’s approval as soon as possible so that farmers are unable to access their flooded land to plant spring crops over the coming weeks and months will not be unfairly penalised.
Making the announcement, Environment Secretary George Eustice also said he was aware that the spread of the coronavirus is causing other difficulties for the farming community.
He said:
The Rural Payments Agency is working tirelessly to ensure farmers have access to all the guidance they need and we are exploring all options to ensure the right support is available in the coming weeks and months.
