Devon and Cornwall farmers urged to plan for heavier rainfall

The Environment Agency's Flood Action Week runs from 14 to 20 October and encourages everyone to know what actions they can take to prepare for flooding.

In Devon and Cornwall, the Environment Agency is concerned about the impact heavy and prolonged rainfall is having on farmland, especially in areas with steep slopes.

Late harvesting of crops like maize ahead of winter can leave bare, compacted land. Heavy rain in these conditions means runoff will erode soil, pollute watercourses and flood roads and neighbouring properties.

'Winters are only going to get tougher'

Late harvesting causes soil compaction with little opportunity to cultivate before winter, causing runoff and soil erosion

James Wimpress, of the Environment Agency, said:

Farming is tough right now. A very wet year is already delaying harvest time for some farmers and making conditions for harvest very difficult. This will compound the problems winter brings.

The longer that harvest is delayed, the smaller the window is to plant any form of cover crop to bind the soil and reduce runoff and cultivate the ground to reduce compaction.

Winters are only going to get tougher with more rain for longer periods. This means more soil erosion, runoff, pollution and flooding, unless farming practices become more resilient.

When soil becomes too wet and soft for heavy machinery to travel on, farmland is churned up with little opportunity to correct any problems by cultivating the ground to remove wheel marks and compaction. On well-draining soils, it is better to cultivate soils to remove compaction and leave the soil rough, rather than leaving a compacted stubble over winter.

Plan ahead and reduce runoff with these actions

Heavy rain on steep slopes and bare compacted fields causes runoff and other problems

With the changing weather farmers are being asked to rethink when planning cropping next year:

• Avoid growing high-risk crops on fields which tend to be naturally wet where compaction is inevitable and difficult to remove late in the year.

• Avoid using fields with erodible, sandy soils on steep slopes where runoff could wash onto neighbouring roads and communities.

• Avoid leaving compacted and bare soils over winter, cultivating and using cover crops after harvest where needed.

• Assess soil condition to develop a long-term plan of improvement, such as increasing organic matter over time.

• Plan future cropping to avoid high-risk situations and use any available funding from agri-environment schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Initiative.

The same risks persist into the spring with wet weather and thunderstorms on bare soils before crops have had a chance to establish.

Farmers can find all the information they need about regulatory compliance, pollution risks and good practice in a new booklet, Harvesting Success. To receive your free copy, email [email protected] or call the NCCC on 03708 506 506, or download a digital copy from the Farming Advice website.

Background

Flood Action Week 2024 (14-20 October)

In England there are around 5.5 million homes and businesses at risk of flooding. The cost of flooding to a home can be tens of thousands of pounds. Flooding also brings a significant risk to life.

Research shows the mental health impacts can last for at least 2 years after flooding has happened, and depression, anxiety and PTSD can affect up to a third of people who have been flooded.

But, crucially, taking steps to prepare for flooding, and knowing what to do in a flood can significantly reduce the damages to a home and possessions, reduce risk to life, and reduce the likelihood of suffering from mental health impacts in the future.

Flood Action Week takes place from 14-20 October and is focused on encouraging people to know what actions they can take to prepare for flooding.