Farmers are struggling to protect their crops in the intense heat and are cautioning about potential food shortages in the UK due to an ongoing drought, coinciding with another period of high temperatures for Brits.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is advocating for tax breaks for farmers to address critical water shortages, citing concerns about potential food scarcity in the country. The prolonged drought, affecting half of England, has led to water deficits, with eight regions under heat health alerts as temperatures climb to 34C.

Farmers specializing in certain crops are reporting hindered crop growth due to the excessive heat, prompting them to rush to salvage their annual harvests.

Some areas of the country have not received rainfall for over a month, resulting in stunted crop development, particularly affecting wheat, which has only reached half its usual height. NFU President Tom Bradshaw noted a significant decline in oat production this year.

The crop stunting is attributed to recurring heatwaves that have dried out the soil and accelerated water loss in plants during growth stages.

Mr. Bradshaw is urging the Prime Minister to act promptly and proposes tax incentives for farmers to build water storage systems. Emphasizing the importance of water security for food production and national security, he voiced concerns about potential food shortages due to changing climates globally.

In addition to tax breaks, Mr. Bradshaw is calling on the government to invest in reservoirs to preserve water supplies post-winter, prioritizing domestic food production for growth across the UK.

According to the Met Office, England has received minimal rainfall, just 5.6mm by July 30, which is a mere eight percent of the average for the month. This figure is less than half of the record set in 1911 during a similar dry spell. Wales, although not in a drought, also experienced significantly low rainfall for the month.

The heatwave is posing challenges for dairy farmers as high temperatures lead to reduced feed intake by livestock, impacting milk production.

Sophie Gregory, a dairy farmer, highlighted the difficulties of keeping cows cool during record-breaking temperatures in June. She emphasized the importance of maintaining cow comfort to sustain milk yields, acknowledging the necessity of adapting farming practices to address climate change.

Choose Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of <a data-testid="cipa-cookie-notice-link