A new £2 million Farming Recovery Fund has opened for applications today (January 06).

Eligible farmers with affected land in parts of South Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and the Midlands can now apply for grants between £500 and £25,000 following the November 2019 floods. The fund is aimed at supporting farmers who suffered uninsurable damage to their property.

“I saw first-hand the impacts of this devastating flooding myself when visiting farmers in Lincolnshire in November,” stated Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers.

“I am delighted we’ve been able to extend our Farming Recovery Fund to cover farmers in parts of South Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and the Midlands who were hit with unprecedented weather last year. This scheme, coupled with the other measures we’ve announced, will help farmers get back on their feet.”

Repair costs to be covered by the fund include removing debris, re-cultivation, and replacing damaged field gates.

The Farming Recovery Fund first opened in September 2019 with £2 million allocated for farmers affected by flooding in North Yorkshire and Wainfleet in Lincolnshire over the summer. Those farmers can apply until March 31 while the new batch announced today has until the end of July.

“While insurance will pay out for the majority of the damage, under the Farming Recovery Fund farmers will be able to apply for money to help cover unexpected costs – such as rebuilding fences and stone walls,” noted Rural Payments Agency chief executive Paul Caldwell.