UK farmers are adopting a range of measures to cope with hotter, drier summers, including drought-tolerant crops, healthier soils, ponds, rainwater storage and restoring wetland areas. The changes matter because repeated heatwaves and low rainfall are damaging crops, straining livestock water supplies and increasing reliance on imported vegetables.

This summer’s conditions have produced the earliest UK cereal harvest in at least 20 years, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Heat and water shortages have yellowed cauliflowers, distorted cucumbers and reduced broccoli size, while some farmers are using hedges, trees and water-holding soils to retain moisture. Others want smarter systems to divert excess river flow into farm storage, and are considering natural water-management approaches such as revived marshes and beaver dams.