Britain could face food shortages as drought continues, farmers warn
Wheat is half normal height, while England is seeing earliest ever harvest as farmers battle to salvage what they can of their cropsBritain could face shortages of certain foods af
By The Guardian
Britain could face shortages of some foods as drought continues to hit farms across England, according to the National Farmers’ Union president. The warning comes after farmers said winter floods made planting difficult, followed by a dry summer that has restricted irrigation in many areas.
The Guardian report said wheat farmers have described crops as half their normal height, while England is seeing its earliest ever harvest as growers try to salvage what they can. It also said this is the third drought in five years, with farming groups calling it the “new normal” for British agriculture.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said the situation could lead to food shortages and has asked the prime minister to take action. The report added that around 23 million people across England and Wales are under a hosepipe ban.
The Environment Agency has also said half of England is officially in drought, with seven regions affected, and the government says farmers are already harvesting crops early and may see poorer yields from cereals because of the dry conditions and high temperatures.