UK unveils £65 million drought support for farmers

The UK government has allocated £65 million ($88 million) in support for farmers grappling with severe drought and reduced crop yields, according to Bloomberg's report on Friday evening. The funding, provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, aims to enhance flexibility within environmental subsidy schemes, enabling farms to utilize protected grassland as animal feed without forfeiting payments.

Additionally, the package includes increased funding for constructing on-farm reservoirs and fewer restrictions for their use. Measures are also in place to facilitate easier access to water during periods of scarcity.

Environment Secretary Robert Burnham is anticipated to address the impact of climate change on farmers during a visit to a farm on Saturday. He is also expected to emphasize the importance of domestic food production as a matter of national security. England has been predominantly affected by drought, with three-quarters of the region experiencing dry conditions following a series of heatwaves and limited rainfall.

Farmers have reported their earliest harvests in over two decades, with diminished crop yields raising concerns about the implications of extreme weather on food production.

Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, welcomed the government's changes but described them as a temporary measure. Lane acknowledged that reducing barriers to reservoir construction is a positive step; however, farmers would still bear the majority of the associated costs. He also called for a more comprehensive national plan to adapt agriculture to the challenges of climate change.

The drought has significantly disrupted the farming sector, prompting the government to ban the sale of disposable barbecues on Friday and issue an emergency alert across England and Wales. The alert warns the public against lighting fires that could potentially trigger wildfires. Network Rail, the rail infrastructure operator, is also planning to investigate two train derailments that occurred on Thursday and Friday, attributing the exceptional challenges to the unusual combination of heat and dry conditions.