What financial help is there for flood-hit farmers?

The effects of Storm Henk are still being felt, and with many farmers fearing the financial impact of flooding, we look at what help is available to them.

In short, farmers could receive up to £25,000 from the government. The money is being made available through the Farming Recovery Fund.

It’s not clear at this stage how farmers can apply for help. The Farming Recovery Fund was last made available in 2019 when flooding left large parts of Lincolnshire under water. Back then, applications were handled by the Rural Payments Agency.

In addition to the £25,000 grants, there is also the Flood Recovery Framework, which is offering:

• Up to £5,000 to support eligible applicants invest in flood defences
• 100% relief against council tax and business rates for a minimum of three months for houses and businesses affected by flooding
• Small and medium-sized businesses can apply for up to £2,500 in Business Recovery Grants.

If you’re a farmer who has suffered uninsurable damage to your land, we suggest searching for ‘Farming Recovery Fund’ online and applying as soon as the process opens.