Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled a £65 million funding package aimed at assisting farmers dealing with severe drought conditions. The announcement came after receiving criticism from within his own party, including Labour MPs and grassroots members, for insufficient focus on addressing the climate crisis amid ongoing wildfires and agricultural hardship across Britain.
The majority of the funding, totaling £50 million, will be directed toward the sustainable farming incentive program in England, which compensates farmers for conservation efforts. This allocation will increase the total SFI budget to £290 million, with additional resources prioritized for regions experiencing the most acute drought impacts. Farmers participating in the program who are typically restricted from cutting or grazing protected land will now be permitted to do so in areas with inadequate grass supply, without forfeiting their payments.
An additional £15 million has been allocated to support the construction of on-farm reservoirs for water storage during future dry periods. The government has also announced backing for nine new reservoir projects. Alongside these measures, the administration is implementing regulatory changes to streamline water access, including simplified licensing procedures and adjusted environmental abstraction limits to enable farmers to secure water where shortages are most severe.
Burnham chaired a government meeting this week to coordinate a comprehensive response spanning agriculture, water management, and infrastructure. During a planned farm visit in the southwest, Burnham is expected to emphasize that food production capacity constitutes a national security matter. However, agricultural industry representatives cautioned that the reservoir funding represents only a fraction of what is needed, with the Country Land and Business Association noting that the announcement, while welcome, amounts to a temporary measure. The organization stressed that sustained, long-term programming with coordinated planning and licensing support is necessary to address underlying challenges.
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