Norfolk farmer says hot conditions will put pressure on food supply
Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK in April, the sunniest on record for the month-according to the Met Office
A farmer in Norfolk says there'll be added pressure on food supply chains- if hot conditions continue throughout the month
There's a "medium" risk of summer drought- according to the Environment Agency.
Following the driest start to spring in 69 years and with little rain expected over the next ten days.
"It means that we might have to import more food than we currently are"
Nick Deane lives and works in Hoveton, near Wroxham:
"Cereal yields will be going down and quality will be going down, as as well. Take malting barley as an example, there'll be less of that in the country.
"It means that we might have to import more food than we currently are. However, this high-pressure is sitting across a lot of Northern Europe, so that's not the answer.
"Looking further forwards- climate change and population growth will impact on the availability of sustainable water supplies.
"If we want to be growing food, we have to make sure that farmers have their fair-share of that supply. So, that we can make sure that the right amount of quality food makes it onto the shelves"
Just how dry has it been?
Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK in April, the sunniest on record for the month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded across the UK as a whole, and just half the average rainfall for England, Met Office figures showed.
And March saw just 43% of its average rainfall across the UK, with England getting a quarter of the rain it would normally expect for the month.
Across England, reservoirs are 84% full - compared to 90% at the end of April in the 2022 drought year.
Reservoir levels are either notably low or exceptionally low across the north east and north west of England, which have had their driest start to the year since 1929.
While chalk groundwater levels are in generally a good position, river flows are below normal or lower for this time of year across northern and central England.
The weather has flipped between extremes in the past few years, with drought and record-breaking heatwaves in 2022, followed by record wet conditions, and now a return to low rainfall.
The regulator said it is closely monitoring implementation of firms' dry weather plans, working with farmers to help plan irrigation, and preparing advice to the public on small steps they can take to reduce water use.
"The extreme weather patterns...is impacting our ability to feed the nation"
National Farmers' Union vice president Rachel Hallos said the situation on the ground remained variable across farming sectors.
But she said: "The dry conditions and lack of any substantial rainfall has meant farmers in some parts of the country have started to irrigate crops much earlier than normal - thankfully reservoirs are currently full following the wet autumn and winter.
Urging the government to recognise water for food production, she added: "The extreme weather patterns we have experienced over the past few years is impacting our ability to feed the nation.
"This should include access to water in times of shortage to be secured through planning policies that support on-farm water storage, investment in water-use efficiency on farm, and innovation in more water efficient crops and farming systems."
The Government says it's 'national drought group' has met to discuss this with key players