This evening, the Government announced a package of support for farmers managing drought pressures in England. The £65 million of funding is in response to the growing impacts of climate change driven extreme weather this summer, with prolonged heatwaves and drought impacting farm businesses, food production and nature. 

Gemma Lane, land use policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says: 

“As extreme weather becomes more frequent, this additional funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive is a positive step in supporting farmers to improve their resilience to the growing impacts of climate change. From adding more shade for livestock through hedgerows and agro-forestry, to boosting grassland resilience by re-introducing floodplain meadows and species-rich grassland, this increased recognition of nature’s role in tackling climate impacts is much-needed.  

“However, lasting resilience will only come from sustained investment in healthy soils, nature-rich habitats, and Environmental Land Management schemes, including Countryside Stewardship, made available to all farms. It’s vital that investment supports the long-term foundations of resilient farming and utilises nature-based solutions to help farmers hold more water in the landscape, reduce the impacts of drought and flooding, and strengthen food security.”