FARMING organisations welcomed the Government's decision to extend the flood relief funding to farmers in Yorkshire.

Dorothy Fairburn, North regional director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said they had been pressing for the extension.

She said: "It’s a really difficult time for everybody across the whole of the North of England. Almost everyone has been affected by the flooding in some way.

"I’m pleased to hear that farmers and landowners in Yorkshire will now be getting financial help to restore their valuable agricultural land."

James Copeland, the North East NFU regional environment adviser, said the news would be a huge relief for flood hit farmers.

He said: "With hundreds of acres of crops, and pasture land under water and livestock swept away, farmers will be grateful for some help in getting their business recovery underway. This is crucial if the terrible weather we have experienced is not to have a significant impact on food production for next year."

Although the fund will not cover the cost of replanting lost crops, it will help with the cost of restoring agricultural land to the condition it was in before flooding arrived.

Mr Copeland added: "Given the increasing frequency of these serious flooding events, the NFU urges the government, Defra and flood risk authorities to take a fresh look at how we manage flooding situations, balancing the complexities of individual catchments and river systems."

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