Results from the survey of 620 NFU members were highlighted during an edition of .
More than half of respondents (54%) to the survey said they had experienced small-scale fly-tipping on farm, while over a quarter (30%) said they鈥檇 been hit by large-scale fly-tipping.
The survey comes after more than 19,000 people signed the NFU's letter to newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners last month urging them to make tackling rural crime a priority.
A 鈥榗onstant blot鈥� on the landscape
NFU Vice President Rachell Hallos said the results came as 鈥渘o surprise鈥� with more of our farms and countryside spaces 鈥渂eing used as dumping grounds鈥�.
Rachel quoted members who had 鈥渂attered old kitchen appliances, sofas and mattresses abandoned on their land, as well as industrial-scale amounts of hazardous and toxic materials such as asbestos鈥�.
鈥淥ne also had 10 fridge freezers left in a gateway,鈥� she added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 shocking and no exaggeration to say that fly-tipping is a constant blot on the landscape.鈥�
鈥�With concerted help and support from the next government and police forces, we can start to crack down on this continual blight on the nation.鈥�
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Channel 4 reveals cost to farmers
皇家华人has been working closely with production company Quicksilver Media on a special programme for Channel 4 Dispatches to demonstrate how fly-tipping and waste crime has become more organised and sophisticated across the whole of the UK.
The programme shows how farmers and their families are being left to clean up the mess at great cost 鈥� both emotionally and financially.
Rachel said viewers will see 鈥渉ow soul-destroying it can be to have your home and workplace used as a dumping ground and the huge damage it causes鈥�.
The NFU鈥檚 election manifesto calls on the next government to treat fly-tipping as a priority. We are calling for a consistent and coordinated response across government, including fair funding for rural policing, a dedicated rural crime team in every police force in the country and the formation of a cross-departmental rural crime task force to address the failures in dealing with rural crime.
Rachel added: 鈥淔or some time now, we have been making the case to politicians that action is desperately needed.
鈥淲ith concerted help and support from the next government and police forces, we can start to crack down on this continual blight on the nation.鈥�
Reporting incidents
When asked about reporting, just over half of those affected (52%) said they had reported an incident to the council, only 19% said they had contacted police and even fewer (4.4%) said they had reported it to the Environment Agency.
While 45% said the council does routinely (i.e. always) assist with the clean up of fly-tipping, 54% of those affected estimated it still cost them up to 拢500 in clean-up costs last year.听
Have you experienced fly-tipping on your farm? We鈥檙e encouraging farmers and landowners who've been affected to share details of incidents with us using our听online form.
Your information will help strengthen our case for tougher action.
If you know or suspect illegal waste activity is taking place, report it anonymously to听听or call听0800 555 111. The 24-hour incident hotline is also available on听0800 80 70 60.
