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Arable farmer Henry Ward from Lincolnshire has criticized the Environment Agency for failing to repair riverbank breaches following last year’s flooding. Ward’s farm at Short Ferry was submerged for six months after the River Barlings Eau overflowed. While the EA fixed a breach on his land, a significant hole upstream on a neighboring farm in Stainfield remains unrepaired.

Meetings between flood-affected farmers and EA officials were postponed, leaving Ward frustrated with the lack of response from the agency. Concerned about potential flooding amid the current wet weather, Ward has enrolled all his land in Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme to secure a guaranteed income. He is also waiting for flood recovery funds from Defra’s Farming Recovery Fund, which have yet to be allocated.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw expressed disappointment over the delayed grant funding for flood-damaged land repairs. The NFU is also worried about the state of flood protection in Lincolnshire, with two riverbank breaches remaining unrepaired. The Farming Recovery Fund offers grants to restore land damaged by flooding events from late 2023 to early 2024.

According to Defra, all eligible farmers have been offered payments from the initial Farm Recovery Fund, with Minister Baroness Hayman expected to make further announcements soon. The government is committed to enhancing flood resilience and is working on accelerating the construction of flood defenses through the Flood Resilience Taskforce, involving representatives from the farming sector.

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