image expired

Visitors to the Oxford Farming Conference yesterday struggled to get home after the close of conference as many rail networks were shut down and flooding persisted in the local area.

Counties further afield were also affected and concerns were growing for farming businesses.

Royal Agricultural College graduate Lottie Hudson from Marlow, Buckinghamshire told Farming Online:

“I am very concerned for the local farmers. The water is well above my wellingtons 500 metres from the river.”

“The anaerobic conditions under the water will basically suffocate the crop. It’s really quite concerning and I’d hate to think of the economic loss to the local farming community.”

DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson had attended COBRA meetings this week to try and ensure government agencys were working together to try and aid flood-stricken homes across the UK.

Today, Thursday 9 January, the Met Office had no severe weather warnings in place although a large clean-up operation across those affected areas was underway.

National Rail reckoned full service may not be resumed until Saturday 11th January around the Oxford area.