Half of England was officially declared in drought on Wednesday, with July expected to be the driest on record after winter floods, according to the Environment Agency. This summer has seen record-breaking heatwaves across much of Europe, combined with droughts and wildfires, making farming difficult.
Farmers are struggling with the lack of water. Tim Young, a Norfolk farmer, stated that the last six years have seen two-thirds the amount of rain compared with previous years, making water scarcity the primary risk to his business. Last year, his licence to take water from a nearby river was paused due to low flows, which he described as having catastrophic impacts.
Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, noted concerns among horticulture growers that water saved in reservoirs over winter could soon deplete. The regulator warns that on-farm reservoirs in drought-status areas, covering half of the country, will likely run out of supply in August.
Luke King, from organic farming business Riverford, said their on-site water storage is crucial for farming, with all but one of their reservoirs now empty. He also highlighted that during recent heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 30C, plants were highly stressed.