April 2019


Anglia Farmer


Serving the farming industry across East Anglia for over 35 years News


over access to water • Growers must have fair share of water • Irrigation restrictions likely this summer • Farmland risks becoming unproductive


rgent action is needed to ensure farmers receive their fair share of water – and agricultural land contin- ues to remain productive, indus- try leaders have warned. NFU vice-president Stuart Roberts said farming was be- ing increasingly affected by vol- atile weather events. The govern- ment must have coherent policies in place to protect a future supply of clean water, he warned. “Farmers bear the brunt of the impacts of extreme weather, its uncertainty and volatility,” Mr Roberts told listeners at the re- cent Floodex/Irrigex event in Pe- terborough. “It’s not just a severe lack of


U


water like we experienced dur- ing last summer’s agricultural drought but the fl ooding of agri- cultural land leading to a loss of crops and animals. Events like these expose the vulnerability of the farming sector.”


Potential solution Farmers were an important part of any potential solution, said Mr Roberts. Through internal drain- age boards, created to manage intricate draining systems, they were helping land fl ourish for ag- riculture, the environment and rural communities. “The importance of these IDBs cannot be underestimated and the expertise and knowledge provided by farmers must be rec- ognised. There must also be ade- quate funding to ensure that the great work farmers and IDBs are doing to protect people, property and livelihoods is not lost.” Mr Roberts added: “We really must start taking water-related issues seriously in order to safe- guard this essential resource for the future and to protect produc-


4 ANGLIA FARMER • APRIL 2019


tive farmland from predicted ris- es in sea level and increasingly frequent fl ooding.”


Restrictions on irrigation this summer are increasingly likely without adequate rainfall over the coming weeks, the NFU has warned. Prospects for irrigation are moderate to poor in some ar- eas of the region, says the Envi- ronment Agency. The warning comes as the


Country Land and Business As- sociation said there was no justi- fi cation to ending compensation for changes in water abstraction licenses. It made the statement in response Defra’s consultation, Improving the Management of Water in the Environment.


Last resort Instead, the CLA argues that any variation of licenses to abstract water should be used as a last resort with water companies en- couraged to reduce leakages, con- sumers pushed to be more effi - cient, and farmers urged to trade water and invest in winter stor- age facilities, fi rst.


“


We really must start taking water-related issues seriously


CLA chief land use policy ad-


visor Susan Twining said: “While we wouldn’t condone unsustain- able abstraction of water by any means, and support the collabo- rative efforts to address the prob- lems, it is simply wrong for the government to propose revoking licenses without proper redress.” She added: “Many of these li-


censes have been in place for dec- ades, form a vital part of many businesses’ asset base and it is


The government needs a coherent water strategy, says Stuart Roberts


only fair that they should gen- erate full compensation for com- mercial losses if taken away.” The CLA has also highlight- ed concerns over the importance of fresh water to effi cient crop and livestock production. Defra should be taking into account the needs of farmers and landowners and water for food should be clas- sifi ed as an “essential use,” it said. Ms Twining added: “Given the importance of food production, as well as the growing concerns around climate and health push- ing demand for locally grown fruit and vegetables, water for food production should be equal in status to water for public supply. “This would mean added pro- tection in drought situations, ad- ditional investment and research in water management and the building of resilience through better winter storage.”


Arable How early rape minimises beetle damage


Technology Drone confusion means fines for farmers


Potato special: Focus on future for one of region’s most important crops


Animal health Combat disease to


sustain production Livestock


Fury as carcase split pledge abandoned


Property


Get to grips with EFA planning this year


Manager on a mission Tim Pratt looks ahead at Wantisden Hall Farms


Cereals Stand 935


See us at Industry calls for action Tel: 01480 495956 www.flr-cropdrying.com Fen Tiger


No hiding importance of farm safety


Anglia Farmer publisher agrees key media


partnerships


In a move set to benefi t farmers, Anglia Farmer magazine publishers Countrywide Publications have agreed media partnerships with two key industry events. The partnerships are with


this year’s Cereals Event, due to take place on 12-13 June at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire; and the Midlands Machinery Show, due to take place on 20-21 November at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.


More coverage


The partnerships will enhance our coverage of both events – enabling us to bring readers the latest news and details of what visitors can expect to see at each show. Our Cereals preview will


be included in next month’s magazine, with a preview of the Midlands Machinery Show published in October. Both will be chock full of information about each event and showcase exhibitors. Cereals is the UK’s leading


technical event for the arable industry. Now managed by Comexposium, the organisers of SIMA, Cereals attracted over 18,000 farmers, agronomists, and industry experts last year to discover the latest arable innovations and hear from opinion leaders. With its strapline of


“bringing the agricultural industry together”, the Midlands Machinery Show attracted some 300 exhibitors last year – proving to be a great platform for farmers and contractors to do business with local and national agricultural machinery dealers and manufacturers.


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