Farmers down 240 million litres of milk after heat

An unprecedented heatwave this summer has caused dairy farmers in England and Wales to deliver 240 million fewer litres of milk than anticipated, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). Farmers distributed four less days of milk supply than expected between May and August, 2026. The extreme heat resulted in subpar grazing conditions, reduced harvests, and heat-related strain on livestock.

Debbie Wilkins, a dairy and beef farmer from Gloucestershire, admitted that the summer had been particularly challenging. To cope with the loss, many farmers started feeding winter forage to their cattle, adding to the overall costs. Wilkins, who operates a farm in Prior's Norton, described the summer as particularly arduous.

The ECIU reported that the dairy farmers lost milk valued at over £83 million, enough to fill more than a billion school milk cartons. The UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, characterized by five intense heatwaves and drought declarations. Despite the significant loss, the ECIU projected that UK milk production could still reach near-record levels in 2026. This is due to the farmers' ability to build up a buffer earlier in the year, partially offsetting the milk lost during the summer.

However, Tom Cantillon, a senior analyst at ECIU, cautioned that future heatwaves would be increasingly difficult to recover from. As milk is an unforgiving product in farming, it cannot be stockpiled, and the costs persist even after the rain arrives. The second year of poor grassland has forced farmers to resort to winter forage early, leading to increased feed prices.

Cantillon emphasized the need for farmers to receive assistance in implementing climate-resilient measures, such as providing shade, planting trees, and ensuring access to water.