Call for pragmatism after the storm

road closed due to flood, weather

In a letter today to RPA directors, the NFU has asked for partial BPS payments for flood-hit claimants, the postponement of inspections in the North of the country as the clean-up following Storm Desmond begins, and a relaxation of rules on livestock movements and TB testing.

The need for a pragmatic interpretation of regulations will be most pressing in the North West.

An estimated 341mm of rain fell at Honister in 24 hours from 6.30pm on Friday. If verified, this will be a UK record and the equivalent of more than a month’s worth of rainfall in a single day.

The NFU has suggested the following, once immediate measures to safeguard people, property and livestock are complete:

  • Can the RPA urgently look at helping those farmers severely impacted by the flooding where BPS and ELS/HLS payments have yet to be made – can partial payments be made for those affected please?
  • Where any inspections are still due to take place in the North of England, we ask that these are reviewed and postponed where possible.
  • Can the RPA work with Defra and the APHA to look at relaxing the rules on sanctions around delayed TB testing caused by this weekend’s weather, and ensure that farmers are not automatically penalised if there is a late test and then have to explain why it could not be carried out?
  • There will be instances where livestock movements have had to take place for welfare reasons, so movements may not have been reported as require. Equally those that have lost stock will not know the final numbers and so records will not be as accurate as farmers would like them to be.  We would like the RPA to be as pragmatic as possible in these situations.
  • Wider issues around compliance with rules are a concern for our members, so cross compliance rules around soil standards and supplementary feeding should also be enforced pragmatically. Furthermore, impacts on land eligibility where watercourse erosion or realignment has occurred, or where material has been deposited on top of soil, will need to be addressed.  Again some flexibility is required over the coming months as farmers sort things out on the ground.  
  • Can clarification given as to force majeure and exceptional circumstances rules? We would hope the events of the weekend are considered under these headings.
  

Tomorrow NFU staff will meet with the Farming Community Network to discuss BPS and related matters, including the impact of Storm Desmond. Next week we will be meeting the main banks, where flexibility for flood-hit farmers will again be on the agenda.

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