National Farmers' Union Warns of British Food Shortages

The National Farmers' Union warned that Britain faces potential food shortages following a prolonged drought and a series of heatwaves. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported the earliest cereal harvest on record, with wheat and barley yields falling significantly below the 10-year average. Some wheat crops reached only half their normal height, a crisis compounded by winter flooding that had previously hampered planting.

The environmental strain is reflected in Met Office data showing July was likely the driest month on record, with rainfall at just 8% of the long-term average. Consequently, over 20 million people across England and Wales are under hosepipe bans, while the UK Health Security Agency issued amber and yellow heat health alerts for eight regions of England as temperatures exceeded 30C.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw urged the Prime Minister to prioritize domestic food production and provide tax breaks to help farmers build water storage systems. The Country Land and Business Association added that the current conditions could mark the final harvest for many struggling farmers.