NFU calls for support to protect farms from extreme weather

The NFU has urged ministers to do more to help farmers cope with increasingly frequent droughts and floods, as the UK marked 50 years since the drought of 1976.

Scientists and policymakers gathered on Wednesday 17 June to reflect on the historic drought and assess the country’s resilience to future water shortages.

The meeting came days after international scientists confirmed the onset of a strong El Niño, a weather pattern linked to higher temperatures and drought in some regions.

See also: Rainfall brings relief to parched crops following dry spell

Using the anniversary to highlight the pressures facing agriculture, NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins warned that extreme weather is becoming both more common and more severe.

“Food security starts with water. To safeguard our domestic food supply, we must build resilience to climate volatility,” he said.

Mr Tompkins called for planning and regulatory reforms to support on-farm reservoirs, investment in water efficiency and innovation in more resilient cropping systems.

He said 78% of farmers and growers had seen an increase in severe weather events over the past decade.

Farmers are increasingly experiencing sharp swings in conditions, with crops affected by flooding one year and drought the next.

Pasture land has also suffered from extremes, limiting grass growth and putting additional pressure on livestock systems.

“This volatility is not just challenging, it’s costly,” said Mr Tompkins, pointing to average losses of more than £40,000 reported by some farm businesses.

The 1976 drought

The drought of 1976 caused widespread disruption across agriculture, with barley yields cut by up to 50% in some areas, shortages affecting potato processors and concerns over water rationing.

East Anglia farmer Michael Sly, who was eight years old at the time, remembers the impact on his family’s farm.

Mr Sly said: “Fields that should have been full of life turned brown and brittle.

“With extreme weather like this becoming more common, farmers and growers are ready to be part of the solution in adapting to our changing climate.

“But we need more support to make that happen.”