British drought raises fears of food shortages as farmers warn of shrinking harvests

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — British farmers are warning that drought conditions could lead to food shortages as the U.K. weather service announced Monday that England and Wales had provisionally recorded their driest July on record.Southern England saw its driest month ever since records began in 1836, the Met Office said. It was also the sunniest July recorded in England and Wales.“The combination of record-breaking dryness, exceptional warmth and unprecedented sunshine has delivered one of the most notable summer months in our historical records," Met Office Science Manager Amy Doherty said in a statement.Months of record-low rainfall and four heat waves since May have left crops stunted and rivers depleted.Half of England and the whole of Wales are now officially in drought after declarations by the Environment Agency, which oversees England’s environment, and Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh environmental regulator.The drought has already forced water restrictions on about 23 million people across England and Wales, while the U.K. Health Security Agency issued health alerts across much of England through Wednesday as temperatures were forecast to exceed 86 F in some areas.The National Farmers’ Union warned the prolonged dry weather is damaging harvests, driving up production costs and threatening Britain’s food security.Union President Tom Bradshaw said yields of wheat and oats were “very, very poor” this year, while livestock farmers had already begun feeding animals with winter fodder because grass had isn’t growing.Vegetable growers are also running short of irrigation water, reducing domestic food production and increasing costs, he said.“We have to recognize that water security is a critical part of our food security and food security is our national security,” Bradshaw said.NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said farmers were experiencing “climate change in action” and called on the government to improve water planning and make it easier for farms to store water when rainfall is plentiful.“Securing water for farming means securing the food on the nation’s plates,” he said.Climate change is exacerbating drought conditionsThe warning highlights the growing economic impact of increasingly frequent droughts in Britain.Scientists say climate change is making heat waves and prolonged dry spells more common, putting greater pressure on the country’s aging water infrastructure and food production.Bradshaw urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest in more reservoirs and water storage, arguing too much winter rainfall is discharged into the North Sea instead of being captured for dry periods.“We can’t change what’s happening at the moment, there is no water in our rivers, but we must use this to take action for the future,” he said.He added that relying on imported food would become increasingly difficult as other countries also experience more extreme weather.“It does feel like there is going to be some shortages of food products,” Bradshaw said.The prolonged dry weather has also fueled wildfires across the U.K., with firefighters tackling major blazes on the moorlands of Greater Manchester and the Peak District, as well as fires in Suffolk, Dorset and the Scottish Highlands.Large parts of France and Spain are also battling severe drought after months of exceptionally dry weather, fueling prolonged wildfires that have burned thousands of acres and strained emergency services.Wheat and barley crops damagedThe Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which supports Britain’s farming sector through research and market analysis, reported cereals including wheat and barley have been particularly hard hit.Its first harvest report of the year said combines had begun operating earlier than at any point since records began in 2006, with many farms across southern and eastern England harvesting crops two to three weeks ahead of normal.Anthony Hopkins, the board’s director of cereals and oilseeds, said many farmers had worked overnight to avoid the hottest daytime temperatures.“Cereal yields have generally been below the 10-year average so far, with some farms experiencing significant reductions,” Hopkins said. “Following successive years of difficult weather and rising costs, the financial pressures are becoming increasingly acute for those businesses hardest hit.”Hosepipe ban for 25 million peopleWater companies have also warned demand has reached unprecedented levels.Around 25 million people in England are currently living under a hosepipe ban — roughly 40% of the population.Thames Valley, the U.K.’s largest water provider, introduced a ban on using a hose to water gardens or wash cars on 23 July, affecting its 10 million customers across London and the Thames Valley.United Utilities, which supplies northwestern England, said it delivered more than 528 million gallons of water a day during the recent heat wave — about 53 million liters above normal daily demand — as households, businesses, farmers and firefighters all increased water use.The company urged customers to conserve water, warning the longer-term forecast remains dry despite some expected rainfall this week.Environmental groups say the drought is also damaging rivers and wildlife.The Rivers Trust said many waterways across Britain have fallen to critically low levels, with the River Thames at Reading recording its lowest level on record.The charity called for a more coordinated approach to water management, including restoring wetlands, planting trees and reducing unsustainable water abstraction to improve rivers’ resilience during prolonged dry periods.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads