Following the devastating affects of Storm Henk, the government has opened the Farming Recovery Fund to support those who suffered uninsurable damage to their land.

Under the scheme, eligible farmers in England will be able to access grants of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was in before.

Read more about the scheme and how to claim below…

Eligibility 

The fund will initially be available to groups in counties that had been badly affected in January 2024 by Storm Henk. These are Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, West Northamptonshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Those who have experienced the highest levels of flooding are being contacted by the RPA (Rural Payments Agency), to acquaint them with the support available. This approach will ensure RPA can write to eligible farmers directly to invite them to claim and will allow who need it the most, promptly.

Eligibility for the fund will remain under review by Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) to ensure it is supporting areas where farmland is most impacted. Counties currently under review are Berkshire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Derbyshire.

Farming Minster Mark Spencer said:

“I know how difficult this winter has been for farmers, with extreme weather such as Storm Henk having a devastating impact on both cropping and grazing, as well as damaging property and equipment.

The Farming Recovery Fund will support farmers who suffered uninsurable damage with grants of up to £25,000, and sits alongside broader support in our farming schemes to improve flood resilience.”

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