Drought Leaves UK Harvest Heading for Record Low
Britain’s harvest is on course for one of its worst on record after the driest July in memory and a summer of heatwaves left crops parched, farmers and analysts have warned. The shortfall could dent domestic food production and add to pressure on prices. Fields of cereals and vegetables have withered in the relentless heat and lack of rain.
The warning comes as drought grips much of England and hosepipe bans spread to tens of millions, with reservoirs and rivers running low. Poor yields of wheat, barley and other staples mean farmers face lower incomes and the country greater reliance on imports, at a time when food inflation is already a worry for households. The farmers’ union has urged the government to prioritise water for growing food. Thunderstorms forecast this week may bring some rain, but too late and too unevenly to save much of this year’s crop. Watch the final harvest figures and the effect on food prices.