Farmers risk crop failure as heat takes toll
BBCA farmer said he had to harvest his crops almost a month early and cannot sow for next year due to the hot, dry weather.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has called for the government to prioritise helping farmers secure new water supplies, such as by giving grants and speeding up the planning process for water storage units.
NFU northern chairman William Maughan, who has 500 acres (202 hectares) of farmland near Darlington, said: "There's not a lot of moisture, we're getting down quite deep and it's dust."
More than two thirds of England is now in drought according to officials, although the North East has not met that threshold yet. The government said it had stepped up its drought response.
Maughan said he harvested one of his wheat fields "three weeks, maybe four weeks earlier than usual".
"[The heat] causes the crops to ripen and die off early," he explained.
This time of year would usually be used to plant the next season of crops, he said, in his case, rapeseed.
But he said he was unable to do so because the crops could fail to grow in the dry ground.
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: "With each passing day without rainfall, the situation facing farmers and growers is becoming more troubling.
"Growers are working hard to keep fruit and vegetable crops watered, at significant financial expense.
"Meanwhile, livestock and dairy farmers have been forced to start using their winter feed stocks because the grass is no longer growing."
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the picture was worse in many of the European countries we imported food from, adding: "We're not going to be able to trade our way through this potential crisis."
Heat extremes are becoming more likely and more intense due to human-caused climate change, according to the Met Office.
A Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "This government has stepped up its drought response and is ready to take action.
"We are actively considering ways to give more support to the farming sector."
The department said it was planning to make it easier for farmers to build on-site water reservoirs, including by making changes to national planning policies as well as working with the Environment Agency to speed up licensing for water-related projects.
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