UK PM Andy Burnham steps up farmer funds amid extreme heat and drought conditions
Farmers across England will receive a 65 million pounds funding boost to help manage the impact of prolonged heatwave conditions and dry weather, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.
The UK Government has been struggling to cope with an extended period of high temperatures and ongoing drought conditions across large parts of the country.
Burnham chaired an emergency ministerial Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) on extreme heat, wildfires and drought earlier this week. After meeting farmers impacted by low yields and even lost harvests, he pledged additional support on Saturday.
“This is the third drought in five years. Farmers are at the sharp end of a changing climate, and they should not be carrying that risk alone,” said Burnham.
“Lower income, higher costs, and no rain in the forecast. I understand the worry that comes with that. The ability to grow our own food is national security, and I will treat it that way,” he said.
“So we are acting now: more money into farm support, help to get reservoirs built, and easier access to water when it is scarce,” said the prime minister.
As wildfires raged across the West Midlands region of England, Burnham authorised emergency text alerts on mobile phones to caution against using disposable barbecues and other fire hazards.
He was forced to defend the use of a nationwide alert system designed for extreme risk-to-life situations by warning that “Britain was a tinderbox” with multiple fires “smouldering the country”.
Plans were drawn up for the use of firefighting planes to help douse flames and combat the spread of wildfires, as used across Europe and the US.
“I am acutely aware of the pressures exceptionally dry weather is placing on farm businesses,” said UK Environment Secretary Angela Eagle. “Our farmers are facing some of the toughest conditions in decades, which is why we’re stepping in with practical support to help them through these challenging conditions and build resilience for the future,” she said.
The package of measures unveiled this weekend includes an extra 50 million pounds for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, taking the total budget to 290 million pounds, and up to 15 million pounds for on-farm reservoirs to help farmers store water.
An updated National Planning Policy Framework to be published on Monday will set out action to make it easier to build reservoirs and improve access to water during persistent drought conditions.
Downing Street said that while immediate action is being taken, the Government is focussed on the need to adapt to a changing climate.
“The UK has a resilient food system, and the dry weather is not expected to affect national food security. But the Government is taking action now to strengthen that resilience further, through the Farming Roadmap, stronger food supply chains and its work with the National Drought Group and Farming and Food Partnership Board,” Downing Street stated.
The development of nine new reservoirs to strengthen the country’s water infrastructure and improve resilience to future droughts, floods and extreme weather and an investment of around 100 million pounds to strengthen the country’s response to wildfires and extreme weather are among some of the planned actions.
This week marked the UK’s fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius in some parts.
Network Rail admitted “exceptional challenges” for the transport network after two trains derailed in less than 24 hours. While temperatures are set to come down in the coming days, the forecast for much-needed rain remains less certain.
