RURAL affairs minister Hilary Benn pledged to take farmers' concerns over flooding to the Environment Agency after he was lobbied at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Livestock and arable producers said that failure by the agency to dredge and clear rivers, streams and culverts had worsened flooding in the last two weeks. They claimed that the agency placed too much emphasis on wildlife and conservation at the expense of maintaining watercourses.

Mr Benn described the recent floods as a "once in 150 years" event, but conceded that the farming industry should be helped to recover.

He will also discuss with the Environment Agency cross compliance arrangements, which growers say threaten crops this year. The arrangements preserve field margins for wildlife and allow farmers to receive environmental payments.

"If a farmer who grows carrots can't get on his land to spray or can't harvest, he can't sell his crop," said Mr Benn, who added that the effect of the floods on food prices remained to be seen.

Changes to the rules under which local authorities could claim government money to help areas affected by flooding should also help the recovery effort, he said.

Councils could now claim back 100 per cent of the cost, above a set threshhold, and had six months, instead of two, in which to claim. the bgovernment was also to plough an additional 14m into flood recovery and was to boost investment in flood defences in the next three years.

"This investment is recognition by the government that we should do more," said Mr Benn, who visited flood victims in the Doncaster and Leeds areas.

Responding to concerns from tenant farmers of a milk shortage because so many diary farmers had been forced out of business by low prices, Mr Benn said: "Dairy producers have been through a pretty difficult time, so the fact that milk prices are increasing is a good thing for the industry."

He remained upbeat about the future for farming and said the government's job was to support the agriculture industry and help it to realise its potential. "There is a case for optimism", he said.

During the afternoon, Mr Benn cut a birthday cake to mark the centenary year of the Country Land and Business Association.