Managing farms and land during prolonged dry weather and drought

Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought after experiencing record-low rainfall and unusually high temperatures. 

So far in August, rainfall has been 5% of the seasonal average, following the driest July in 190 years. 

This summer has been hard for farmers. Dry conditions are placing pressure on farm businesses. Grass growth has reduced, forage is less available, crops are being affected and water supplies are under pressure. Farmers are also facing higher fertiliser and red diesel costs because of the conflict in the Middle East. 

Food security is national security, which is why we are working closely with farmers, the Environment Agency and the water sector during this exceptionally dry weather. 

Defra met with farming and food representatives on Wednesday 5 August to discuss solutions to the challenges the dry weather presents. The National Drought Group met on Monday 10 August and will continue to co-ordinate the broader impacts of dry weather. 

We are looking at how we can support farmers through this prolonged dry weather and hope to be able to say more on this soon, alongside how we're building greater long-term resilience to climate shocks. 

In this blog post, we've gathered information and resources to help farmers and growers understand what support is available and what steps you can take now. 

Access to water

Environment Agency guidance on abstraction and irrigation

If prolonged dry weather is affecting your access to water, there may be options available to help you.  

Colleagues at the Environment Agency have published a dedicated blog bringing together drought advice, abstraction updates and useful resources for farmers and growers on the following:  

• Guidance outlining options that may be available to help abstraction licence holders access and manage water while balancing environmental needs 

• Help for abstraction licence holders looking to explore opportunities for water sharing and trading 

• Practical advice on irrigation scheduling and making the most of available equipment 

• Support for the development of local Water Abstractor Groups 

The Environment Agency can advise farmers on measures available during drought. These include options that sit outside usual abstraction licence conditions. 

If you have any questions, you can call their National Customer Contact Centre for advice on 03708 506 506. 

Managing reservoirs

Extreme weather can impact the safety of your reservoir. 

During periods of drought, regularly check reservoir levels and inspect embankments, spillways and surrounding areas for signs of cracking or damage caused by dry ground conditions.  

It’s also important to manage vegetation and reduce fire risks around reservoirs and infrastructure.  

Further advice is available on GOV.UK on how to manage, maintain and improve your reservoir in extreme weather.

Storage of flammable materials 

High temperatures and prolonged dry weather can increase the fire risk for hay, straw and other materials.  

Where possible, move hay and straw into storage promptly after harvest, ensuring that moisture levels are sufficiently low. Damp hay can generate heat as it dries, creating a risk of spontaneous combustion.  

Sections 2 and 4 of the NFU's Risk Management Programme for the Prevention of Fires on Farms sets this out in further detail. 

Where possible, keep hay and straw storage away from other farm buildings, particularly those which house fuel, fertiliser, chemicals or other combustible materials. Try to leave adequate space between stacks where possible. 

Devon and Somerset's Fire and Rescue Service have created this page on monitoring hay and straw temperatures.

Animal health & welfare

Hot, dry weather can place additional pressure on the health and wellbeing of livestock and increase demand for water.  

Make sure animals have sufficient drinking water, check them regularly for signs of heat stress, and have their management or diets adjusted if necessary.  

It’s also worth planning ahead for potential water shortages, identifying alternative water sources, and where required, planning arrangements to move animals. 

Visit GOV.UK for more advice on caring for farm animals and horses in extreme weather.

Wildfire & creating firebreaks 

Mitigating fire risks 

Many parts of the country are at a very high or exceptional risk of fire. You can check to see the fire risk in your area in these Fire Severity Index (FSI) maps, provided by the Met Office, for the whole of England and Wales. 

This Farmland Safety and Fire Prevention booklet produced by the Fire & Rescue services, in partnership with the NFU, examines the fire dangers which are commonly found on farms. It identifies simple ways in which risks can be reduced. 

Creating firebreaks 

In areas facing a high risk of wildfire, creating firebreaks can help limit the spread of fire and protect livestock, farm equipment, homes, and crops where they have not already been harvested. 

Firebreaks are created by removing or managing flammable vegetation, such as long, dry grass. This can include cutting, clearing or ploughing. Reducing vegetation limits the fuel available to a fire and helps contain it. It also exposes bare soil that flames cannot easily cross. 

To be effective, the width of the firebreak should be around 3 times the height of the highest crop or vegetation next to it. For example, if your wheat crop is around 1 metre high, the firebreak would be around 3 metres wide as a minimum.  

If you’re considering creating a firebreak, make sure you comply with all relevant law and regulatory requirements which apply to you and your land.  

If your land is in an Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement, you must contact the RPA before you create a firebreak on that land. Read the ‘ELM revenue schemes’ information below to find out how to do this. 

Controlled burning of heather, grassland and crop residue 

In areas that are suffering from extended periods of dry weather, undertaking routine controlled burning significantly increases the likelihood of a wildfire starting. 

For the safety of your local community, Defra is advising farmers to not burn heather, rough grass or other vegetation, even if you have a licence, consent or agreement that permits you to burn at this time of year. 

Farmers and land owners should continue to work with the Fire & Rescue Service who, in the event of a live incident, may undertake tactical burns to create a fuel break. 

Schemes and grants

ELM revenue schemes 

We recognise that prolonged hot and dry weather can create challenges for farmers and land managers delivering actions under our ELM revenue schemes. 

We are actively considering whether we need to make temporary adjustments to ELM revenue agreements under the following schemes:  

• Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 

• Countryside Stewardship (CS) 

• Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) under Environmental Stewardship (ES) 

We will provide a further update on any temporary adjustments as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if extreme weather prevents you from meeting your ELM agreement requirements, you must tell the RPA: 

• for SFI, email or write to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as soon as possible about this change of circumstances – preferably within 8 weeks of you being able to do so 

• for CS or ES, complete a CS and ES minor and temporary adjustment form and email it to the RPA 

The RPA will use the information you provide to decide what action to take. If there is any impact on your payments they will tell you the outcome of any decisions in writing. 

Innovation & technology

Through the Farming Innovation Programme, we’re supporting farmers to implement innovative technologies that help use water more efficiently. 

Trying something new can involve time, cost and uncertainty. Grants like the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund helps reduce that risk by funding practical, on-farm trials and demonstrations led by farmers.  

This includes projects trialling new technologies for conserving water on farm, such as this smart irrigation trial led by Water Resources East.  

ADOPT has a rolling application window, you can find out how to apply by visiting the Innovate UK website.

Local Resource Option Screening Studies

We launched the latest round of Local Resource Option (LRO) Screening Studies earlier this summer. These studies support groups of farmers to identify practical solutions to improve long-term water resilience. 

The application window for 2026/27 is now closed and projects selected.  

However, if you would like to be considered on a first-come-first-served basis (subject to eligibility criteria), we may be able to offer further projects. This could happen if funds remain after the currently selected projects are awarded to contractors.  

Please contact WRAgriculture@environment-agency.gov.uk for more information.

Further Information

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