RABI launches £2,000 emergency drought grants for farmers

RABI, a farming charity, has launched a £2 million Emergency Drought Grant to assist farming households facing financial pressure due to prolonged dry conditions. Applications for the Southwest region, including Devon, are scheduled to open on Monday, September 7.

Up to 200 grants of £2,000 will be available in the initial Southwest phase, with a total of £400,000 allocated for each of the five regional phases. The funds are specifically intended to cover personal and household living costs rather than farm or business operational expenses. This initiative follows record warmth in Spring 2026 and low rainfall levels across England and Wales, which have impacted livestock management, irrigation, and crop yields.

Alicia Chivers, Chief Executive at RABI, stated that the grant aims to provide direct financial help to ensure farming people can afford core living costs during this period of increased stress.