The NFU is offering one-to-one support for farmers in the Yorkshire Dales affected by the recent flash flooding, to help them apply for recovery funding from the government.
Following Defra’s announcement last week that its £2m Farming Recovery Fund is now open for business, the NFU North East team said it is planning to host a half-day workshop and follow-on one-to-one appointments for farmers to help them submit a successful application.
The workshop will take place for NFU members and non-members on Monday 30 September from 2pm to 5pm at Reeth Memorial Hall, when farmers will be able to talk to representatives from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) – the government agency responsible for administering the recovery fund.
Then on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 October, NFU staff will be available for one-to-one appointments at the NFU group office at Leyburn Business Park.
Commenting, NFU Regional Director Adam Bedford said farmers would be relieved that the recovery fund is finally open for applications.
“A handbook has been issued to help farmers submit a successful application for funding and we are pleased to be able to help make this process as easy and painless as possible by providing on-the-spot access to experts that can help farmers understand the process.
“We are delighted to see this fund now open, having worked hard behind the scenes to try and ensure it was as accessible as possible to farming businesses hard hit by the floods.
“We know from speaking to our members on the ground just how costly the clean-up is proving with some farmers faced with finding many tens of thousands of pounds to remove stone from fields as rebuild fences and dry-stone walls.
“We hope the government’s intervention will help reduce this financial burden on farmers and aim to make sure as many as possible are able to access the support they need.”
Anyone wanting to attend the RPA workshop should call NFU Regional Office on 01904 451550 to book a place. To book an individual appointment with an NFU member of staff, please call the Regional office on 01904 451550.
For more information the Farming Recovery Fund, please click here.
