Farmers are represented at water summit meetings and within the National Drought Group, which has been established to co-ordinate management of the drought. DEFRA will continue to work closely with farmers and with water companies to support them in maintaining domestic production and to facilitate a flexible, pragmatic approach in order to adapt to and mitigate, as far as possible, the consequences of reduced water availability.Specific key actions to help farmers include:"telling farmers in areas of restrictions as soon as water is available to abstract;""keeping farmers aware of prospects for spray irrigation in 2012 and agreeing how they can best manage the reduced amount of water available to avoid or delay irrigation bans;""encouraging and assisting farmers to set up water abstractor groups to share water and knowledge; and""giving farmers advice on farm water efficiency and conservation."The Environment Agency and the National Farmers Union are also working with water companies to ensure there are contingency plans in place to prepare for increased risks to supplies of drinking water for livestock, particularly housed pigs and poultry.