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All articles about Weather

Find out how extreme weather conditions from drought to flooding affect farmers across the UK and globally. Whether it’s due to climate change or seasonal bad weather, get advice on how to plan for the effect on your farm business, how to check insurance, and to get help during forage shortages.

Advice and tips

Advice to help you protect your farm during flooding

Floods can have devastating impacts on farm businesses, affecting livestock, buildings and homes. In many instances, farmers have found themselves completely at the mercy of the elements, but there are…

BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Am I insured for snow-clearing jobs?

Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts offer free advice on legal, finance, tax, insurance, farm management and land issues. Rural affairs specialist Tim Price explains what farmers need to think about…

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Case studies

NEWS

Video: How Gloucs farmers are working to prevent flooding

Farmers and landowners in Gloucestershire’s Upper Thames area are working together to manage the land to provide catchment-scale solutions to prevent future floods while making businesses resilient.  When storms Eva…

ENVIRONMENT

How farm management changed in wake of Somerset floods

It has been three years since the Somerset Levels were hit by flooding and, in that time, much has changed. Farms have had to change the way they manage their…

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Community

FARMLIFE

15 frustrating things about snow on the farm

When you're living and working in the countryside winter often means you're likely to get some amount of snow - although the British weather can never fully be relied upon.…

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Insights

WEATHER

How farmers coped in the drought of 1976

With the dry weather continuing to affect much of the country and water levels falling, comparisons have inevitably been made with the “great” drought of 1976. But how bad was…

NEWS

Why farming's being asked to do more to fight climate change

While other sectors of the economy, such as power, waste and construction, have been steadily reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the past decade, agriculture has failed to keep…

ARABLE

Arable Horizons: What climate change means for farming

Climate change and agriculture are intrinsically linked – food production is the biggest contributor to global warming and suffers the most from its effects. This was the focus of the final Arable…

Why 2015 weather data gives wheat growers hope

Last year, a mild winter struck fear into the hearts of many wheat growers as experts predicted 2015 could beat 2014 as the worst septoria year on record. Now growers…

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News

WEATHER

Restrictions on water as drought fears mount

Water restrictions are being imposed on farmers amid mounting concerns over a lack of significant rain and low river flows. Cumulative rainfall totals for April range from about 18% of…

IRRIGATION

Drought measures increasingly likely, farmers warned

Summer drought measures are increasingly likely in 2019 if dry weather persists, the NFU has warned. This follows initial results from an NFU survey, which suggests that one-third of farmers…

WEATHER

Act now to secure water supplies, farmers warned

Unseasonably warm weather and a lack of significant rainfall of late means the likelihood of water restrictions is increasing, say experts. In particular, farmers who abstract water for irrigation in…

WEATHER

Record-breaking temperatures see farmers get ahead

Livestock and arable farmers alike have been taking advantage of the record-breaking winter temperatures across the UK by drilling crops, applying fertiliser and turning out animals. This time last year…

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Opinion

NEWS

Opinion: Memories of 1976 show progress has been made

I was only five at the time of last drought. I know – it’s hard to believe. No, not that I am nearing 50… rather that it has taken 42…

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Video

WEATHER

Video: Drought-hit dairy farmers determined not to sell cows

Two Anglesey dairy farmers who have been among the hardest-hit by the drought are determined to spend their way out of trouble instead of selling cattle. Business partners Johnjo Roberts…

WEATHER

Video: Farmers trade water in battle to save crops

The Environment Agency says it will fast-track applications from drought-hit growers who want to trade water with other farmers in a bid to save crops. Agency team leader Jonathan Thompson…

NEWS

Video: How Gloucs farmers are working to prevent flooding

Farmers and landowners in Gloucestershire’s Upper Thames area are working together to manage the land to provide catchment-scale solutions to prevent future floods while making businesses resilient.  When storms Eva…

Video: Forage Aid founder appeals for haulage volunteers

Forage Aid founder Andrew Ward has made a plea for more haulage volunteers to come forward to transport donations to farmers in need, with the charity now "busier than ever" as demand…

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