Dozens of East Anglia farmers are sighing at Ahrelief after emergency NFU actions have led to water restrictions lifting, but the union warns that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
More than 150 farmers and growers from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will resume water abstraction following a high-level meeting with the NFU and the Environment Agency (EA).
Last week’s sudden halt order sparked emergency debate as about 240 growers were unable to irrigate essential crops in one of the driest periods in recent memory.
At a meeting on Wednesday (July 16), the EA confirmed that around 150 farmers will be able to ease restrictions and irrigate under new temporary measures.
Farmers will be allowed to abstract water from 6pm to 6am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday nights, and arrangements will be reviewed two weeks later.
NFU vice president Rachel Harros, who attended the meeting, said this was a “huge and extremely pressing concern” for many farms in the area.
“We are pleased to have worked together with the EA and the Internal Drainage Committee (IDB) to find a rapid solution for some members.
“We will work with members who have not been lifted from restrictions and see what solutions can be found for them.”
She added: “It is essential and moving forward to continue working with the government and EA to find a long-term solution to the rising extreme weather events we are experiencing in this country. This problem is not only gone.”
Haros warned that the country’s food supply could face serious consequences unless a more robust and positive water management plan is in place.
“The scale of the problem we are seeing due to the dry weather on the ground farm is frightening,” she said.
“Farm businesses will be costing a lot of money and some companies will not be able to recover. This will threaten our nation’s food security.”
She also highlighted the growing tensions over the UK’s water resources and the urgent need for strategic planning.
“We need to make sure that the voices of farming are heard. I’m doing the utmost to make sure that’s true.”
Last week’s restrictions surprised many with Cam and Illy Ooz catchments, which had made voluntary cuts and were anticipating even more gradual restrictions.
In response to the crisis, the Environment Agency noted that long-term, dry weather continues to affect East Anglia.
“The low and dry conditions of the river meant that temporary abstraction restrictions had to be applied at the south level of Fenn,” the agency said.
“These pre-fitted abstraction licensing terms are there to protect other abstract environments and rights.
“In the future, we can expect to see more frequent long-term dry weather, so abstraction will make your business as resilient as possible and encourage water users to ask them to use water wisely.”
A letter confirming the updated arrangement will be sent to affected farmers on Friday (July 18th).
