Research Warns Future Flooding Could Cost Millions

An estimated 42,000 hectares of farmland were flooded in 2007, with significant effects on yields and farm incomes for both arable and livestock farmers. Although total cost to the agricultural sector of GBP50.7 million was small compared with urban flood costs, estimates suggest that cereal yields were down by 40% in the flooded areas, and 2.6% of the UK's total potato area was written off due to flooding. In light of Defra's recent food security assessment, the results of the paper provide valuable insights into how flooding affects agriculture and should inform future priorities in policy development and research in flood risk management.

If the link to this paper does not work. Try http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122351070/abstract Tim Hess - 17/08/2009 - 12:05