{
  "id": 4633299,
  "title": "British farmers lose billions after three years of ‘devastating’ harvests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/british-farmers-lose-billions-after-three-years-of-devastating-4633299",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T10:45:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2026/08/31/british-farmers-lose-billions-after-three-years-of-devastating-harvests/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British cereal farmers are facing a £5 billion loss due to three consecutive years of poor harvests caused by extreme heat and drought. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) reports that the 2024 summer had the worst harvest on record, with significant reductions in wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed rape yields. Compared to the 2014-2023 average, production decreased by 14.4 million tonnes over the 2024-2026 period, leading to an estimated £4.8 billion in lost revenue after adjusting for inflation. The Met Office predicts 2026 will be the hottest summer on record, following a severe late winter washout in 2024 and wet conditions in 2023 and 2024. Farmer Martin Lines from Cambridge described the situation as devastating, highlighting the impact on his business and the wider farming sector. He emphasized the urgent need for politicians and the supply chain to address climate change and its effects on food security, as farmers struggle to grow crops, feed livestock, and keep animals cool. The ECIU forecasts a 14 million tonne deficit in cereal and oilseed production between 2024 and 2026, with each year falling short by 4.3 million tonnes in 2024, 4.2 million in 2025, and projected at 5.9 million in 2026. Tom Lancaster, an analyst at the ECIU, warned that British arable farmers are now facing the third poor harvest in a row, with total lost revenue likely to be even higher when considering other sectors like vegetable growers and livestock farmers. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has called for interest-free loans on fertiliser purchases to help farmers cope with the financial strain caused by extreme weather, emphasizing the immediate crisis in cash flow and confidence in the farming industry.",
  "summary": "Many British cereal farmers had hoped this year would bring a better harvest than last year, but extreme heat and prolonged drought means they are set to lose nearly £5 billion ($6.77 billion) due to poor harvests in the last three years. In compiling the figures, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says this summer's weather has led to the worst harvest on record, with wheat and spring barley…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "British farmers lose billions after three years of ‘devastating’ harvests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/british-farmers-lose-billions-after-three-years-of-devastating",
        "published": "2026-08-31T10:45:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}