Swamped fields a 'disaster' that's threatening to ruin our farmers

FARMERS face a catastrophe due to unprecedented wet weather "threatening their very existence", experts have warned.

- Sam Stevenson

Politicians sounded the alarm after the UK was hit by a relentless barrage of rainfall this winter.

The deluge has scuppered plans to get crops in the ground and raised fears foreign exporters will capitalise on the crisis to "flood our domestic market".

Along with worries regarding the new Basic Payment Scheme, a major plan providing financial support to the farming industry, officials have warned of tough times ahead.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said: "Our farmers have faced an unprecedented wet winter, the introduction of thoughtless new trade deals, and a botched transition to a new payment scheme.

"This is a really dangerous combination for British food security and for the economy in places like North Shropshire, where 93% of land and 18% of jobs are in agriculture.

"There are crises across the industry, but particularly with crops like potatoes where red tape and delays are mixing with terrible weather to threaten the very existence of many British producers and traders.

"The only winners from this are exporters from places like Egypt who are keen to flood our domestic market."

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, echoed her concerns. He said: "It's been tough going for farmers, especially growers, and it emphasises the need for a national priority on food security to weather these storms."

Soil expert Andrew Wilkins has been advising farmers on how to manage their crops for more than four decades.