Farms in Britain hit as nation faces the ‘flooding’ challenge
16 Feb 2014 4:39 AM IST
Britain’s Environment Agency had issued 416 flood warnings and alerts, as of early Thursday, including 16 under its most serious category, indicating danger to life.
Thousands of acres of farmland in Britain are under water, with some submerged for weeks, although agricultural economists say it is too early to forecast how output might be affected. ‘Of course there is a big cost to this but at the moment the big worry is making sure the cattle are fed and dry,’ said Chris Mallon, chief executive of the National Beef Association.
Some farmers have turned to social media with #Tractoraid on twitter providing updates on the progress of 30 metric tons of donated feed and bedding on a 225-mile journey by tractor from Yorkshire in northern England to Somerset in the southwest. ‘At the moment people will be helping and people will be interested but once the flood water disappears and it is not as visible, farmers will be having to make sure their business survives and it will be very difficult,’ Mallon said. The National Farmers Union on Thursday called on members to make longer-term commitments rather than immediate donations.
‘What we now need are the pledges of fodder or straw, rather than the actual deliveries, so that we can call upon people’s generosity as and when it is required over the coming weeks and months, when the waters finally abate and farmers return to face a fetid swamp,’ NFU regional director Melanie Squires said.
Thousands of acres of farmland in Britain are under water, with some submerged for weeks, although agricultural economists say it is too early to forecast how output might be affected. ‘Of course there is a big cost to this but at the moment the big worry is making sure the cattle are fed and dry,’ said Chris Mallon, chief executive of the National Beef Association.
Some farmers have turned to social media with #Tractoraid on twitter providing updates on the progress of 30 metric tons of donated feed and bedding on a 225-mile journey by tractor from Yorkshire in northern England to Somerset in the southwest. ‘At the moment people will be helping and people will be interested but once the flood water disappears and it is not as visible, farmers will be having to make sure their business survives and it will be very difficult,’ Mallon said. The National Farmers Union on Thursday called on members to make longer-term commitments rather than immediate donations.
‘What we now need are the pledges of fodder or straw, rather than the actual deliveries, so that we can call upon people’s generosity as and when it is required over the coming weeks and months, when the waters finally abate and farmers return to face a fetid swamp,’ NFU regional director Melanie Squires said.
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