Defra Unveils £50m Flood Fund and £60m in Delayed Payments for Farmers

The UK government has pledged £50 million to support internal drainage boards (IDBs) in protecting farmers against future flooding and confirmed that the delayed £60 million Farming Recovery Fund payments will soon be released.

Yesterday, the government announced new financial support to bolster flood resilience across England’s rural areas. Following a series of delays in issuing these essential funds, the £60 million in overdue Farming Recovery Fund payments will be distributed to farmers starting next week.

The fresh £50 million investment targets internal drainage boards (IDBs)— public entities that manage water levels for agricultural purposes within specific regions. This funding is intended to establish a strong financial base for IDBs, enabling them to continue effectively managing flood risks and water levels for years to come.

Successful IDBs will be able to allocate the £50 million to projects over the next two years through a bidding process. These projects will focus on improvements, repairs, and replacements of crucial assets such as flood barriers, embankments, and watercourse maintenance. Defra emphasized that this funding will be dedicated to projects that reduce flood risks and minimize impacts on farmers and rural communities.

According to Defra, the Environment Agency, in collaboration with IDBs, will begin distributing this funding starting today.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “More intense weather events are destroying homes, businesses, and livelihoods across the country, with farming communities facing the heaviest consequences.

“That is why this government is reforming how flood funds are distributed to protect businesses, rural and coastal communities."

In parallel, payments from the delayed Farming Recovery Fund will soon be provided to farmers affected by last year’s severe weather. A total of £60 million—exceeding the original £50 million allocation—will be granted to approximately 13,000 farmers, with individual payments ranging between £2,895 and £25,000.

Initially announced in January, the Farming Recovery Fund was developed with input from the agricultural industry, drawing upon real-life examples of farmers' challenges. Defra expects payments to arrive in farmers’ accounts by Thursday, 21 November.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “I have asked for these payments to land with farmers affected by the severe wet weather last winter as quickly as possible.

“The £60 million fund is £10 million more than agreed by the previous government and means farmers can get the support they need to recover their land."

Looking ahead, a consultation will launch in the new year to review the current formula used to allocate funding for flood defense projects. This review aims to better account for the specific challenges rural businesses and communities face, ensuring flood protection measures meet their unique needs.