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Farmers affected by flooding are urging the government to reinstate the National Rivers Authority to maintain the country’s waterways and drainage systems. After facing an unprecedented 18-month period of wet weather, many crops remain unharvested and the autumn cereal drilling season has been delayed or ruined in some areas. Concerns are rising among farmers and landowners about the state of neglect from the Environment Agency (EA), which they believe has led to clogged and poorly maintained waterways.
There is a growing call for the EA to step up and address the changing weather patterns, as many feel the agency is ill-equipped to handle the current situation. Farmers are also frustrated by the restrictions placed on clearing their own waterways, with some facing legal consequences for attempting to do so.
Recent data from the Met Office shows that September has been particularly rainy in southern and central England, with some counties experiencing three times their average rainfall for the month. Merseyside farmer Olly Harrison has suggested that better drainage management could help prevent much of the flooding in the UK. He has even offered to fund a trip for EA officials to learn from the Dutch system, known for its effective water management strategies.
Farmers like Somerset beef farmer James Winslade, who experienced severe flooding on his farm in 2014, are advocating for proactive river maintenance to prevent costly flooding events in the future. He praised the Somerset Rivers Authority for its work in repairing and futureproofing rivers against severe weather events and called for similar initiatives to be implemented nationwide.
Innes Thomson, chief executive of the Association of Drainage Authorities, highlighted the chronic underinvestment in river maintenance over the years and called for a shift in funding policy towards greater investment in maintenance. The EA’s director of flood risk strategy, Julie Foley, acknowledged the challenges faced by rural communities and highlighted the agency’s efforts in maintaining and repairing flood assets, with increased spending in recent years.
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.
