Understand
UK farmers count the cost after record-breaking summer drought slashes harvests and increases bills
Overview
The UK's hottest summer and longest drought on record have severely impacted West Country farmers, resulting in plummeting crop yields and soaring costs. Arable farmers faced significant losses, with wheat harvests down significantly and some cereal crops dropping by over 50%. Meanwhile, dairy producers faced heavy financial burdens purchasing winter feed and installing cooling systems for cattle. Farmers are increasingly concerned about frequent extreme weather events and are calling for better support and irrigation infrastructure, though government grant schemes have been rapidly overwhelmed.
Key points
- The UK experienced its hottest summer and longest drought on record, leading to the lowest cereal harvest on record according to official estimates.
- In the South West, wheat harvests on farms like Charles Day's in Gloucestershire were down by about 50%.
- Wiltshire dairy farmer Sarah Godwin reported that the drought cost her family's farm over £100,000 in extra feed and around £20,000 in lost production yields.
- Dairy farmers had to open winter silage clamps early and invest in fans and sprinkler systems to protect cattle from the heat.
- Somerset dairy farmer Tom Kimber noted that this was the fourth drought in eight years, highlighting a worrying trend of frequent extreme weather.
- A government environmental grant fund of over £250m was completely allocated in under six hours, leaving many farmers, including Kimber, unable to secure financial support.