Overview

• Yorkshire and north-east England received just 242.8mm of rain by early July, the lowest total since 1959, according to Met Office data.
• Beetle Bank expects to harvest under 25% of its usual 50–70 hay bales, drastically increasing its reliance on purchased feed.
• With no government support forthcoming, the farm confronts soaring winter feed costs that may force livestock reductions.
• Visitor numbers have halved on days of extreme heat, slashing income from admissions and compounding financial strain.
• Angela Serino is evaluating the installation of an irrigation system to improve resilience against future hot, dry spells.