Overview

• March and April saw record-low rainfall, with some regions receiving less than 20% of normal precipitation, and forecasts show no significant rain for at least two weeks.
• Farmers have begun irrigating crops earlier than usual, but spring-sown fields remain patchy, raising fears of poor harvests and reduced yields.
• Exceptional grass growth has led to a surplus in milk production, forcing dairies to buy excess milk at lower prices, further straining farmers' incomes.
• Experts warn that climate change is driving increasingly volatile weather patterns, undermining agricultural resilience and food security in the UK.
• Shoppers may face empty supermarket shelves and rising prices as extreme weather disrupts farming and threatens the availability of domestic produce.