UK grain harvest faces record low after extreme heat and drought

An analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warns that the United Kingdom's grain harvest this year is the weakest on record since 1984. Record-breaking heat and dryness in the spring and summer, including the hottest and driest July ever recorded in England and Wales, have cut wheat, barley and oat yields by up to 2.5 million tonnes, representing a loss of about £390 million for farmers. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board estimates the total grain and oilseed output could fall to 19.5 million tonnes, below the poor 2020 harvest.

The same extreme July conditions were reported in France, where the month was also the hottest and one of the driest since measurements began in 1900. Meteorological services in both countries recorded unprecedented temperatures and rainfall deficits, prompting scientists to link the events to climate‑change‑driven weather extremes. The National Farmers' Union and other groups have called for food‑security measures and greater investment in water‑management infrastructure to mitigate the risk of shortages across Europe.