At the end of a dry summer, the water level of Staunton Harold Reservoir is very low, allowing grass to grow over the reservoir bed - The Grocer

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Although drought conditions have started to ease due to rainfall in November, NFU members have said they are concerned

Drought conditions in December are a serious cause for concern, the National Farmers’ Union has stressed. 

The farming group has warned more needs to be done to address the “significant water challenges that impact farmers’ ability to produce food for the nation”. 

This comes despite news from the National Drought Group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, NFU, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – that drought-hit areas in England are beginning to recover. 

The NDG said November’s higher-than-average rainfall (149%) helped to kick-start England’s drought recovery, but chair Helen Wakeham warned “we are not out of the woods yet”. 

”The spring was exceptionally dry and the summer very hot,” she added. “Therefore, I would urge people to carry on using water as efficiently as possible – particularly while our environment recovers from the impacts of the recent drought.” 

Public water supply reservoir levels are now 79.8% full, only slightly below the 81.9% expected for this time of year, the NDG confirmed. 

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Despite progress made, 68% of NFU members said they have seen an increase in drought and 56% reported an increase in flooding in the past 10 years, according to its decadal weather survey.

Additionally, of those farmers whose businesses were impacted by severe weather events, 47% reported financial losses of at least £10,000, with 12% reporting losses of over £100,000. 

The organisation’s vice-president, Rachel Hallos, commented that she “could not remember a time when we’ve been worried about drought in December” and noted it could impact food production in the year ahead.

“As our weather survey shows, going from extremes between dry weather and flooding is having a knock-on effect on farming and growing businesses, resulting in financial losses at a time when the Defra secretary has said farm profitability is vital for growth,” Hallos said. “It is essential that farmers and growers have resilience built into their businesses to weather these impacts.”

Hallos called for the government, local authorities, water companies, NGOs and industry to work together to maintain access to a clean water supply.

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