Prime minister Andy Burnham has announced a support package to help farmers in England manage the impact of the prolonged dry weather, backed by £65 million from Defra’s existing farming budget.
Mr Burnham set out the new support for farmers on Friday after chairing the government’s emergency response committee (COBR) on extreme heat, wildfires and drought, following the driest July on record in England and Wales.
The package includes:
- More flexibility in environmental schemes, so farmers affected by drought can continue to receive payments and take practical steps to protect livestock, crops and land.
- An extra £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, taking the total budget to £290 million and helping more farmers access support.
- Action to make it easier to build reservoirs, including reducing unnecessary barriers and updating planning guidance. Further details will be set out in an updated National Planning Policy Framework, which will be published today.
- Up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers store water and become more resilient to future droughts.
- Improved access to water during drought conditions, including Environment Agency support and simpler water access arrangements.
Mr Burnham said the package forms part of a coordinated cross-government response to the drought, bringing together action on farming, water and vital infrastructure.
It aims to help farmers get water to crops, keep livestock fed where grass has failed, and continue their environmental agreements without losing payments when drought makes agreed activity impossible, along with support to build on-farm water storage, helping farms prepare for future dry summers.
Visiting a farm in the South West on Saturday, alongside Farming Minister Stephen Morgan and NFU president Tom Bradshaw, the Prime Minister met farmers affected by the drought.
He said he understood the worry that comes with low yields as a result of the drought and the associated impacts of lower incomes and higher costs, with little rain in the forecast.
“The ability to grow our own food is national security, and I will treat it that way. So we are acting now: more money into farm support, help to get reservoirs built, and easier access to water when it is scarce,” he said.
“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.”
Defra secretary Angela Eagle said: “I am acutely aware of the pressures exceptionally dry weather is placing on farm businesses.
“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.”
The government has already announced plans to support the development of nine new reservoirs, strengthen the country’s water infrastructure and improve resilience to future droughts, floods and extreme weather.
It is investing almost £100 million to strengthen the country’s response to wildfires and extreme weather.
Around three-quarters of England is currently officially in drought. The Environment Agency has declared drought status in East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, Kent, the Thames Valley, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, the East and West Midlands and Wessex.
The government is making an additional £65 million available to support farmers through reprioritisation within Defra’s farming budget, ensuring funding is directed to the areas of greatest need during the drought.
Reaction
“We discussed the urgent cash flow pressures affecting all sectors, alongside the need for action on issues including bluetongue, public procurement, planning, energy and grid connections, and strengthening supply chains.
“The Prime Minister was clear about the vital role farmers play in keeping the nation fed, and their role within communities, and that today’s announcement is the start, not the end, of Government action.”
Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: “The government has reallocated existing money from the farming budget to help farmers combat drought. This is a welcome and pragmatic move but little more than a temporary fix.
“The announcement that government will make it easier to build on-farm reservoirs is a positive step, but the £15m made available will fund a fraction of the reservoirs we need. This needs to become a sustained programme, with planning and abstraction lined up in support.”