Farmers across Britain say prolonged heatwaves and drought are threatening crops, livestock and their ability to remain in business. They are calling for emergency financial help and simpler planning rules for on-farm reservoirs and protected growing facilities, arguing that support has not kept pace with increasingly severe weather.

High temperatures are drying soils, stressing animals and reducing yields of vegetables, fruit, potatoes, grain and milk, while poorer grain harvests could raise animal-feed and meat costs. The Sustainable Farming Incentive, intended to replace some EU-era subsidies, was closed in 2025 because of demand and reopened in June only for farms under 50 hectares; one Cambridgeshire farmer running 165 hectares said his business had not made money from crops for several years.