A Lancashire farmer has had his fields devastated by flooding: Allan Butler, who has lost 22ha of crops, says he is not sure he can continue farming after the floods caused £230,000 of estimated crops losses.
In terms of turnover, he has estimated a loss of £48,000 of potatoes, £20,000 of cabbage and £160,000 of spring cabbage.
The NFU said it was possibly the worst case of flooding to affect a farm business in the UK this winter.
NFU North West spokesman Carl Hudspith said the union was urgently trying to assist Mr Butler and he called on the authorities and charities to offer him as much help as possible.
The flooding hit crisis point at Causeway Farm on Boxing Day after part of a river embankment along River Douglas, which protects the farm, gave way, sending a wall of water pouring onto the land.
The water penetrated a 2m gap in the embankment. Dozens of acres of potatoes, cabbages and spring cabbages were left submerged under floodwaters more than 10ft deep in some fields.
Mr Butler said he previously asked the Environment Agency to make sure the embankment was plugged with sandbags and other materials.
“I would usually harvest my potatoes in mid-December, but I struggled as my son had to have a hernia operation,” said Mr Butler.
The crop losses, for which he was uninsured, have pushed his business to the brink of financial ruin. But if he continues to farm, he fears a similar flooding catastrophe will happen again.
NFU Lancashire county adviser Adam Briggs visited Mr Butler’s farm to see the devastation himself.
“In west Lancashire, horticulture is a major sector and employs thousands of people, generating millions for the local and national economy. Just because the area flooded is not on hard-standing ground does not mean the economic effects of flooding is less devastating.
“We need to find solutions that recognise the importance of farmland and protect it where necessary.”
Source: fwi.co.uk
