A farm director has indicated his business will likely see no profit this year following a hot and dry summer. Michael Parker, a director at Sherwood Farms, noted that the spring barley harvest came earlier than he can recall, with yields down by an estimated 20-25%.
England and Wales have experienced several heatwaves and are set for their driest July in 190 years. Mr Parker attributed the issues to high temperatures and low rainfall, explaining that temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius can effectively stop crop growth.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has issued a warning about potential shortages of certain food products if current drought conditions persist. NFU President Tom Bradshaw reported that wheat and oat yields are "very, very poor" this year, and livestock farmers have had to use winter feed rations due to insufficient grass growth.
Mr Parker, whose family has farmed near Hickling for three generations, said this is the third consecutive year of difficult weather affecting yields and returns. He added that while they are re-examining farm operations, the focus is shifting towards different businesses and diversifications.