New funding will help Nottinghamshire farmers recover from floods

A £6million pot of funding to help farmers recover from flooding in February is set to help those affected in Nottinghamshire.
By Lucy Roberts
Published 24th Mar 2020, 11:07 BST
Updated 30th Mar 2020, 12:56 BST
Support will be available for farmers affected by recent flooding in parts of Nottinghamshire.Support will be available for farmers affected by recent flooding in parts of Nottinghamshire.
Support will be available for farmers affected by recent flooding in parts of Nottinghamshire.

The environment secretary George Eustice has also confirmed that the G overnment intends to relax the crop diversification requirements known as the ‘three- crop rule’ for farmers for 2020, as farmers in flooded areas hav e suggested they will have difficulty complying with the rule this year.

Mr Eustice said: “I have seen first-hand how devastating the recent floods have been to people and communities.

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“For farmers, the costs can be overwhelming, which is why we have extended the Farming Recovery Fund to help those affected by exceptional flooding get back on their feet.

“The ‘three-crop rule’ is not practical in extreme weather events when farmers need to plan their spring cropping.

“Applying a blanket derogation for this year is the best way to reduce bureaucracy and leave farmers free to get on with farming.

“I’m also aware that the spread of the coronavirus is causing other difficulties for the farming community.

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“The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) 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.”

Under the Farming Recovery Fund, affected farmers in eligible areas can claim for grants between £500 and £25,000 to cover a number of uninsurable repair costs, such as the re-cultivation of farmland, including re-seeding, replanting cover crops and alleviating soil compaction.

More information on the application dates for the extended Farming Recovery Fund will be released in due course, to include details on how to apply and guidance on eligibility within affected counties.

Farmers who have been affected by recent flooding and who have already repaired damage caused by the flooding should keep records of all relevant evidence, including receipts and before and after photos, in order to help the RPA process eligible applications promptly.

All farmers whose land has been flooded can access existing guidance around payments by visiting www.gov.uk

Related topics:George EusticeNottinghamshire