13 gem irrigation

The NFU has launched a new schemeto help match growers who urgently need water with neighbouring farmers who have a surplus.

The Environment Agencyhas agreed to consider and, wherever possible, approvefast-track, short-term trades of water to help farmers cope with the unprecedented spell of hot, dry weather.

Water trading will be localised, with donors and recipients needing to operate within the same ‘hydrological unit’, meaning the same river or (part of) groundwater aquifer.

NFU vice president Stuart Roberts said: “The launch of the NFU Water Bank as a web-based noticeboard could be of considerable help to some of our members who are quickly running out of water for fruit and vegetable production as they use up their annual abstraction volumes. Livestock who rely on drinking water from abstracted sources are also at risk.

“We will keep looking for solutions that help alleviate the pressures that are building on the farming industry caused by this agricultural drought. It really is a timely reminder that we shouldn’t take food production for granted in this country.”

In most cases, farmers will only be allowed to trade volumes of water that they have historically used. As such, the most realistically achievable trades will be in cases where the donor is not currently using water that he or she would otherwise need.

Many trades will be conducted between neighbouring farms and potential donors and recipients can match up with one another by following the step-by-step guide on theNFU website.

The NFU strongly recommends that donors and recipients agree on a proposal before seeking approval from the Environment Agency to help it make rapid decisions.