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Farmers Guardian WORLD
Weather
FARMERS have been told to ignore flood warnings ‘at their peril’ as the UK gears up for another winter of extreme weather which could see a repeat of the devastating storms that ripped through rural communities last February.
The advice was issued by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of its Flood Action Week campaign, which urged those living and working in rural areas to ‘act now’ to protect their homes and businesses in the face of extraordinary conditions brought on by climate change.
Caroline Douglass, executive director of flooding at the EA, warned that despite drought measures remaining in place across much of the UK, ‘unexpected flooding could occur at any time’.
According to the Met Office, the UK is once again caught in the La Nina weather system, meaning that a repeat of the storms that lashed several regions last February is likely.
Ms Douglass said 180% of February’s rainfall fell in just seven days, bringing some of the worst deluges the UK has seen.
Three people died and about 400 properties were flooded during storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, which also left about 1.4 million homes without power and caused damage worth more than £500 million.
In order to prepare for future weather emergencies, the EA and the government have invested £5.7 billion in flood management since 2016.
However, industry groups have appealed to the government to do more to ensure farmers are equipped to deal with extreme conditions and that food production is protected.
Mark Tufnell, president of the country, Land and Business Association, said: “Farmers are already doing everything they can to invest in irrigation and water storage systems. But with increasing periods of drought and extreme flooding, more support is badly needed.
“Government must urgently review its current planning permission system, which stalls farmers from building the lagoons and reservoirs they desperately require to cope with increasingly severe weather conditions.
“An Emergency Recovery Scheme needs to be put in place so farmers do not deal with the devastating consequences of flooding alone.”
His words were echoed by Joe Stanley, head of training and partnerships at Allerton Project, who said: “The EA needs to invest in hard infrastructure to protect farms and food production.
“Government really needs to be taking the threat to farms seriously.
“Farmers are on the frontline of the climate emergency and there must be more done to ensure farmers have resilient water management in place.”
Mark Tufnell Land and Business Association
BUILD IT: Head of training and partnerships at Allerton Project, Joe Stanley says the Environment Agency needs to invest in hard infrastructure to protect farms and food production.
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Beweties pretty in pink
Farmers Guardian NEWS
World
THESE ‘beweties’ have been enjoying their 15 minutes of fame after their pink hairdos landed them on the pages of several national newspapers recently.
Owner of the 20-strong flock of Swiss Valais Blacknose, Richard Nicholson of Cannon Hall Farm, Yorkshire, said his shock at their new look prompted him to investigate what was behind the eyecatching coiffure.
“I thought one of the team had been overenthusiastic with the marker, which we use to show which ones have had medication and so on,” he told Farmers Guardian.
“But we eventually worked it out that it is down to the new feeder, which is red. The Blacknoses have got quite thick, coarse wool and the red paint has rubbed off onto their heads.”
Nicholson said the sheep, which are now referred to as the ‘Pink Ladies’, all seemed happy with their fresh finish and were carrying on with their lives. It is good to know their new found fame has not gone to their heads.
Richard Nicholson Cannon Hall Farm
