Farmers to get £65m drought aid as Burnham warned industry at ‘breaking point’
Farmers across England are set to receive £65 million in drought support, alongside a £15 million fund for on-farm reservoirs, as ministers respond to warnings that the sector is nearing “breaking point”. The measures aim to help farms secure water, feed livestock and sustain production amid drought, poor harvests and rising costs, while addressing concerns about food security and climate resilience.
The Country Land and Business Association welcomed the support but said it was only a temporary measure and insufficient for long-term climate adaptation. Farmers report earlier, lower-yielding harvests, heat stress in animals and damage to root vegetables, fruit and potatoes; poor grain crops are also increasing feed costs and could raise meat prices. Access to the Sustainable Farming Incentive remains a concern after it was closed in 2025 and only partly reopened for smaller farms in June.
- England’s farmers will receive £65 million in drought support.
- A further £15 million will support on-farm reservoirs.
- Industry groups say longer-term climate planning remains inadequate.
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Farms depend on reliable water and healthy crops to produce food and keep livestock. In England, drought and hot weather have affected harvests, damaged some fruit and vegetable crops, and put animals under heat stress; poor grain yields can also make animal feed more expensive.
The government can offer grants and other support to help farms manage these pressures, while farmers and landowners can invest in measures such as storing water on their land. The Country Land and Business Association represents rural businesses and has welcomed aid while arguing that farms need longer-term help to adapt to a changing climate.
The issue matters because lower production and higher costs can affect food supplies and prices. It also raises questions about how public support should help farms cope with extreme weather and maintain production over time.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Government support to farmers facing genuine hardship from drought is justified given its implications for food security and the strategic importance of agriculture to national self-sufficiency. The aid combines emergency relief with long-term infrastructure investment in reservoirs, providing an appropriate response that prevents farm closures and supply chain disruption during crisis.
The case against
Whilst sympathetic to the genuine hardship farmers face, direct subsidy-based responses risk creating dependency and reducing incentives for the adaptation and innovation essential to long-term climate resilience. Resources might achieve greater long-term sustainability through funding structural reforms, helping farmers transition to drought-resistant operations, and restoring access to adaptation schemes rather than providing temporary relief.