Since May, DEFRA has worked closely with experts from the farming industry, farming charities, levy bodies, insurers and banks to assess the financial impact of the exceptional spring weather on farmers. A new 10-point plan of action has been agreed to help farmers to prepare for risks to their businesses, including work to explore the potential for insurance schemes and other emergency funding mechanisms. Farming resilience working groups have been held over the summer to refine and start to implement the plan; for instance, by developing new advice and information to help farmers prepare for severe weather. A further summit will be held in December.

Since May, DEFRA has worked closely with experts from the farming industry, farming charities, levy bodies, insurers and banks to assess the financial impact of the exceptional spring weather on farmers. A new 10-point plan of action has been agreed to help farmers to prepare for risks to their businesses, including work to explore the potential for insurance schemes and other emergency funding mechanisms. Farming resilience working groups have been held over the summer to refine and start to implement the plan; for instance, by developing new advice and information to help farmers prepare for severe weather. A further summit will be held in December.

Since May, DEFRA has worked closely with experts from the farming industry, farming charities, levy bodies, insurers and banks to assess the financial impact of the exceptional spring weather on farmers. A new 10-point plan of action has been agreed to help farmers to prepare for risks to their businesses, including work to explore the potential for insurance schemes and other emergency funding mechanisms. Farming resilience working groups have been held over the summer to refine and start to implement the plan; for instance, by developing new advice and information to help farmers prepare for severe weather. A further summit will be held in December.

Since May, DEFRA has worked closely with experts from the farming industry, farming charities, levy bodies, insurers and banks to assess the financial impact of the exceptional spring weather on farmers. A new 10-point plan of action has been agreed to help farmers to prepare for risks to their businesses, including work to explore the potential for insurance schemes and other emergency funding mechanisms. Farming resilience working groups have been held over the summer to refine and start to implement the plan; for instance, by developing new advice and information to help farmers prepare for severe weather. A further summit will be held in December.

In response to the truly exceptional late snow in parts of England in spring this year, which had a serious impact on isolated and financially vulnerable farmers at the height of the lambing season, DEFRA made up to £250,000 available to help with the costs of collecting fallen stock. Applications closed at the end of June and all payments have now been made under this scheme.

The pilot culls will take place during the summer months where we do not anticipate snow and cold conditions will impact on culling.

Therefore no assessment has been carried out of the effects of the recent adverse weather on the pilot badger culls, and the impact assessment will not be revised.

We are confident that the recent adverse weather conditions have not had an impact on the number of badgers in the cull area. The badger population estimates are based on a wide range of evidence including new genetic data from hair trapping to create a more accurate and robust estimate of the true badger population.