Tougher crops and beaver dams: how UK farmers are tackling drought

In the face of heatwaves and low rainfall, UK farmers are exploring innovative methods to ensure crops and cattle remain resilient. The string of hot and dry weather experienced across vast swathes of Britain this summer has led to the earliest UK cereals harvest in at least 20 years, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Consequently, cauliflowers have taken on a suntanned appearance, cucumbers have yielded misshapen fruit, and broccoli has become undersized, prompting the nation to import more vegetables than usual.

Rather than resorting to the installation of costly reservoirs, some farmers are adopting more unconventional strategies to cope with the drought. Martin Lines, an arable farmer and leader of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, has finished his harvest a month early after enduring two consecutive hot, dry, and windy summers. Lines and his fellow farmers are focusing on enhancing soil health to retain more water and constructing water storage systems to conserve rain.

Lines suggests that farmers should evaluate their annual water requirements and determine how much rainfall they can store using rainwater harvesting techniques, which involve large tanks connected to gutters on farm buildings. He also proposes connecting farmlands to local drainage and rivers, utilizing digital flow sensors to manage water flow more efficiently during periods of flood or drought.

Some regions of farmland were once marshes that have been drained for decades or even centuries. In response, farmers are experimenting with storing water on their land instead of sending it to rivers and the sea. West Pikefish Farm, operated by the Smith family, has transformed a previously flooded orchard into a wetland area featuring ponds and scrapes that fill with winter water and feed into a larger lagoon. This system not only provides water for summer irrigation but also aids in managing flooding downstream.

The Smith family's approach demonstrates a holistic strategy aimed at improving resilience while managing flooding. However, the implementation of such features across the catchment area faces delays due to the necessity of planning consents and surveys. James Smith, the farmer, hopes to begin work on the project next year, emphasizing the need to create a more streamlined roadmap.

As climate change continues to impact agriculture, farmers are diversifying their crop choices. Martin Lines is exploring options such as sunflowers and soya beans, often associated with warmer climates. Legumes, a group of plants including beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils, are also being considered due to their suitability for hot and dry conditions.

Despite the unpredictability of the British climate, researchers like Prof Pete Iannetta from the James Hutton Institute believe that increasing the cultivation of legumes could bolster the UK's food security.