UK drought 2026: wheat harvest plummets and bills soar

The hottest summer on record and the longest drought have inflicted severe blows on agricultural communities across the West Country in the UK, with farmers counting the heavy costs of a brutal growing season.

For Charles Day's family farm in north Gloucestershire, the crucial weeks of June and July brought zero rainfall, causing wheat grains to shrivel and yields to plummet. Official estimates indicate the total UK cereal harvest was the lowest on record, with wheat dropping by approximately three million tonnes, or 11%, according to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB).

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Anthony Hopkins, AHDB director of cereals and oilseeds, noted that arable farmers in the hardest-hit areas are facing intense financial pressure amid high input costs. Meanwhile, Tom Collins of the NFU in Wiltshire reported that most cereal farmers in the South West saw harvests drop by at least 30%, with spring barley and beans plunging over 50% due to the drought.

Dairy producers experienced different pressures; although total UK milk production dipped by only 4.5% according to AHDB, farms in the Cotswolds suffered from brown, nutrient-starved pastures. Sarah Godwin's family had to dip into winter silage reserves early and purchase external feed to sustain their dairy cows.

"On top of that, cows suffered more lameness, lower fertility, more mastitis. They really did not enjoy the heat."

Sarah Godwin

The Godwins invested 15,000 pounds installing new sprinkler systems and large fans inside barns to protect cattle from extreme heat. In Somerset, Tom Kimber noted that extreme weather is becoming the new normal, managing 250 dairy cows where grass yields dropped significantly, forcing them to consume winter silage stocks early through July and August.