Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Pearson examined deep cracks in his field following an unusually early oat harvest, revealing soil that had lost substantial moisture. The growing season has proven challenging across the United Kingdom and Europe, with nearly three-quarters of English land currently experiencing drought conditions. England and Wales recorded their driest July since record-keeping began in 1836, with some regions receiving barely one-tenth of their typical monthly rainfall.
Jamie Burrows, chair of the National Farmers’ Union’s Combinable Crops Board, noted that harvesting more than half the winter wheat crop before the end of July reflected the difficult conditions many arable farmers faced. Industry leaders are calling for government investment in drought and disease-resistant crop varieties and improved planning for on-farm water storage. The situation appears part of a troubling trend, as this marks the third drought in five years and the second consecutive year, according to the National Drought Group’s chair Helen Wakeham, who described it as an exceptionally serious situation with long-lasting impacts.
Pearson transitioned to farming in 2015 after careers in medicine and humanitarian work, adopting regenerative practices including no-till farming and reduced chemical inputs. He has experimented with ancient grain varieties sourced from international seed banks, varieties that evolved under water-limited conditions thousands of years ago. However, his yields have declined for three consecutive years, and even the efficiency gains from reduced fuel consumption have not offset poor harvests.
A study published in May 2025 by the European Investment Bank and European Commission found that extreme-weather agricultural losses average 28 billion euros annually across the EU, with projections reaching 40 billion euros by 2050. Roughly 80 percent of this risk remains uninsured, affecting farmers directly. The UK, outside the EU framework, lacks a comprehensive national crop-insurance scheme. Pearson advocates for increased government investment in agricultural knowledge and data rather than subsidies, particularly regarding crop varieties’ nutritional benefits and climate resilience. Risk specialist Rowan Douglas suggested the initial priority should be properly quantifying the financial risks the nation faces, similar to research conducted for other EU countries.
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