Hertfordshire farmer warns record June heat is threatening harvest
He warns it could mean yields are down because crops haven't fully developed
A Hertfordshire farmer is warning that this month's exceptionally hot weather is making it even harder for farms to survive, with this year's harvest expected to begin earlier than usual.
The UK's highest ever June temperature was recorded last week, with the heatwave peaking at 37.3°C.
It broke the long-standing June temperature record, set in the summer of 1976, by more than 1°C – a significant margin, as such records are usually broken by only fractions of a degree.
Fred Dickinson, 32, who farms near Harpenden, says he is "desperately" preparing for an early harvest this week.
He said harvest would typically begin around two weeks later, meaning yields are likely to be lower because crops have not had enough time to fully develop.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Mr Dickinson said: “We really could have done with a bumper year, this year. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're going to get that, so times are tough for farming at the minute.”
Mr Dickinson said it “feels like one thing after another” and that it is making the industry “difficult to survive”.
He said: “We've had the fuel prices double, fertiliser prices double, and corn prices are probably 30% down from where we would like it to be. So, it's been one thing after another.”
He added: “It's depressing to be honest. We put all this work in, we're doing around 100 hours a week in the summer and when you look at the bank balance and you've not made any money, you think ‘what are we doing it for?’
“Luckily, we can do other things where we farm, but ultimately, if it's not making money, we can't carry on like this.”