Over 80% of UK farmers say climate change is seriously threatening their ability to make a living.
The study reveals the widespread disruption caused by increasingly harsh weather as farmers and growers take the brunt of the brunt.
Over the past five years, 86% have experienced extreme rainfall, 78% have faced drought, and over half have said they have suffered heat waves.
Only 2% reported no extreme weather effects. This is a harsh indicator of how widespread the crisis is.
Commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and conducted in a grounded study, 300 farmers across the UK asked questions.
When asked about the impact of extreme weather on farms, 87% cited lower productivity, 84% saw a decline in crop yield or livestock production, and three-quarters reported lower income.
“We are pleased to announce that Tom Lancaster, Land, Food and Agriculture Analyst at ECIU.
“From lost crops and livestock to soil erosion, farmers are fighting these effects in most respects than periods of repeated heat waves, droughts and extreme rainfall all fall victim to farmers’ trust.”
He added: “Beyond farmers, the scale of these climate impacts also raises questions about the UK’s food security in the face of extreme climate driven by climate change.
“We need to take these risks more seriously. We need to get more support for agriculture to increase resilience and build, and take more urgent action to help farmers reduce their emissions.”
The study follows a recent report confirming a billion pound losses for arable farmers due to unprecedented wet winters last year.
In response to these challenges, more than two-thirds of farmers have changed their farming practices, changing what is growing, participating in environmental schemes, and investing in diversification.
Nevertheless, over 30% are “very concerned” about their future ability to make a living from agriculture.
The worries intensify when considering the next generation, with two in five farmers very concerned about the prospects of successors.
Kent Farmer’s Anthony Carwen recalls the situation as follows:
“We moved from drought to the Bible flood, and we returned to the drought in just a few years of space, which is devastating, and many people in agriculture fear a sustainable future.
“What we need most from the government right now is a little more stability and some better support that will help us improve our resilience to these effects.
“If you want to maintain a robust supply of homemade food, you need to build this resilience and invest more in the soil, water and wildlife that strengthen the foundations of food security.
“In an age where climate is giving us kicks, governments need to have their backs, rather than increasing uncertainty.”
Many farmers in the study called for stronger policies to help them adapt. Two-thirds emphasize the need to reduce financial pressure and improve farm prices to enable environmental work.
Almost 60% sought longer-term certainty in the green agriculture scheme. These concerns reflect the ongoing government efforts to improve farm profitability and continue to disrupt the UK’s sustainable agricultural incentives.
