Drought 'severely affecting' farms, says NFU county chairman
Farmers in England are reporting significant financial losses and operational challenges due to a severe drought. The Environment Agency has declared a drought across much of the country, leading to water restrictions and concerns over food production.
Why it matters
The drought highlights the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate change and extreme weather events.
Image source, Contributed Image caption, Alex Nelms, chairman of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon National Farmers' Union, said his farm was "30% down"
The current dry weather is leaving some farms "severely squeezed", a county farmers' union chairman has said.
A drought has been declared by the Environment Agency (EA) across more than half of England, including in the Thames Valley on Wednesday.
Alex Nelms, county chairman of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon National Farmers' Union (NFU), said farmers "have to make some difficult business decisions" to get through the dry weather.
Graham Adams from Lockey's Farm in Arborfield Cross, Berkshire, told BBC News he had been "extremely worried" about what it would be like for his farm going into the winter.
The EA announcement covers much of central, eastern and southern England.
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