JAN 10, 2013: Record rainfall in 2012 has cost British farmers £1.3bn, prompting calls for the Government to provide insurance against extreme weather if it wants to preserve national food security.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) estimates the extreme levels of rainfall in 2012 has cost the industry £600m in lost output, especially from poor wheat and potato harvests, and another £700m in extra costs such as feed for cattle.