SEPA have taken the decision to suspend surface water abstraction licences in the Eden catchment in North Fife from midnight on Saturday.  The economic impacts of this decision will be felt for weeks and months to come – many crops will fail, jobs will be lost, and the viability of some farms is at risk.
 
NFU Scotland made it clear to SEPA and Scottish Government how important irrigation is to farming.  We have sought to find a way to allow irrigation to continue for the crops most at risk when water is unavailable.  We asked for high risk crops to be prioritised and for leeway to be given emphasising that food security and economic concerns should play an important role in decision-making.

While the decision to suspend water abstraction licences only applies to the Eden, we understand that other catchments are being closely monitored.
NFU Scotland Horticulture Committee Chair Iain Brown said:
 
“The suspension of surface water abstraction licences in the Eden catchment in North Fife from midnight on Saturday will be a devastating blow for vegetable growers.  Without water crops will fail.

“We asked SEPA to allow priority crops such as broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce to continue to be irrigated.  In the past this has been possible all be it at reduced rates.  
 
“Without water for these crops growers will now have complete crop failure, which will cost our members millions of pounds of lost revenue and threaten the viability of their businesses.  The last few years have been difficult for many in the vegetable sector, and this will now be the end for some.

“Blanket abstraction bans are just wrong.  Food production is critical and should be prioritised.  More planning is required, and more resilience needs to be put in place to ensure crops can be grown.”