UK: NFU calls agricultural drought summit as heatwave bites

The NFU is seeking urgent action to address the crippling impact of the dry, hot weather on farms across the country. An agricultural drought summit has been called and NFU policy experts and commodity board chairmen will sit down with representatives from other farming organisations, Defra, The Environment Agency, Natural England, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and farming charities RABI and Farming Community Network, to discuss what can be done to help mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave. Many parts of England and Wales haven’t seen any significant rain since the end of May resulting in tinderbox conditions, severely reduced grass growth and depleted yields for some crops. NFU President Minette Batters will chair the meeting. The agricultural drought summit is due to take place on Wednesday 1 August 2018 at the NFU’s London office. Read more