UK drought threatens supplies, farmers demand water aid

Farmers and agricultural leaders are warning that prolonged drought conditions across the United Kingdom threaten future domestic food supplies and could lead to shortages of certain crops, prompting urgent calls for government investment in water security. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has demanded tax breaks for farmers to build water storage systems, arguing that the country's food resilience is at risk.

England and Wales have recorded their driest July since records began, with southern England experiencing its driest month on record, according to provisional Met Office statistics. This marks the third serious drought in five years, a pattern farming groups now describe as the "new normal." Much of England has gone more than a month without meaningful rain, exacerbated by repeated heatwaves that have baked fields dry. The dry conditions have forced one of the earliest harvests on record, with many farmers finishing two to three weeks early.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said yields for cereal crops like wheat, barley, and oats are "very, very poor" this year. He warned that the drought could translate directly into food shortages and greater reliance on imports, noting that...