Farmers in England receive £65 million to combat drought challenges
Farmers across England will receive £65 million to help them deal with this year’s drought after warnings that many are at “breaking point,” Andy Burnham is set to announce, reports BritPanorama.
The prime minister will also unveil a £15 million fund aimed at building on-farm reservoirs to provide water during dry summers in the future, as he meets with farmers in the South West on Saturday.
However, Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, acknowledged that while the support is welcome, it is “little more than a temporary fix.”
He cautioned that the reservoir funding would cover only a “fraction” of what is necessary, warning that the issues facing farmers in the current business environment remain dire. He stated, “in a country that does not have a plan for climate change adaptation,” the situation is unlikely to improve.
The continuing drought has led to wildfires, water shortages, poor harvests, and soaring fuel and fertiliser prices, prompting urgent calls for the government to extend emergency cash support. Farmers have expressed that the current challenges are overwhelming and require immediate attention.
During his visit, Mr Burnham will attempt to reassure farmers, many of whom have voiced dissatisfaction with Labour following the controversial ‘tractor tax’ under Keir Starmer. He will acknowledge, “farmers are at the sharp end of a changing climate, and they should not be carrying that risk alone.”
Furthermore, he will highlight how farmers have experienced unprecedented harvests combined with significantly lower yields than expected: “Lower income, higher costs, and no rain in the forecast. I understand the worry that comes with that. The ability to grow our own food is national security, and I will treat it that way.”
He concluded, “So we are acting now: more money into farm support, help to get reservoirs built, and easier access to water when it is scarce.”
Many farmers report struggling to access the government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive, which was introduced to provide relief following the UK’s exit from EU subsidies. This scheme was abruptly closed in 2025 due to overwhelming demand and only reopened in June for small farms under 50 hectares.
High temperatures have created a “hairdryer” effect, evaporating moisture from the air, causing heat stress in livestock, and adversely affecting the growth of root vegetables. Farmers foresee possible shortages in fruit and potatoes due to these conditions.
Poor grain harvests are contributing to increased animal feed costs, with expectations that this could also lead to higher meat prices as farmers are compelled to reduce herd sizes.
Additionally, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has alerted that milk production has been significantly hampered by the extreme heat, impacting yields, as cows experience heat stress and conditions for grass grazing decline.
The newly announced package is aimed at supporting farmers in securing water for crops, feeding livestock where grass is failing, and continuing essential environmental initiatives.
