England On Flood Alert As Waterlogged Fields Pile Pressure On Growers
- Sarah-Jayne Gratton
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Weeks of relentless rainfall have left farmland across England waterlogged and rivers swollen, with more than 100 flood warnings active and over 180 flood alerts signalling ongoing risk to rural communities and farm businesses.
The Environment Agency’s flood warnings — which mean flooding is expected — sit alongside a wide swathe of alerts where flooding is possible as clay soils struggle to absorb any more moisture. Saturated fields are delaying essential fieldwork, heightening the risk of crop losses and compounding pressures on growers already facing tight margins.
Rural leaders say the timing could hardly be worse. Gavin Lane, President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), described heavy rain following a challenging dry summer as “the last thing we need,” noting that cereal prices remain low and milk returns are no better. Uncertainty over future funding and recent inheritance tax changes have also dampened farm investment, he added.
On the ground, farmers are contending with waterlogged land and delayed operations, while research commissioned by Defra suggests winter flooding can cost an average of £480 per hectare — with losses for arable and horticultural businesses often running two to four times higher.
Meteorologists and flood authorities warn there’s no immediate let-up in sight. Persistent wet conditions are expected in coming days, keeping flood risk high for farmland, local roads and properties. The persistent rain follows a period in which parts of the UK — including much of southern England and Wales — have recorded rainfall every day so far in 2026, a trend that’s left soils saturated and flood defences tested.
With farm resilience already stretched thin by market and weather challenges, this extended spell of wet weather is adding fresh strain to an industry that relies on stable conditions to plan and protect crops and livelihoods.
