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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Damian Carrington Environment editor

UK farmers lose £800m after heat and drought cause one of worst harvests on record

A combine harvester emptying its threshed spring barley into a trailer whilst on the move
Spring barley is harvested. The ECIU said the evidence suggests climate impacts were driving issues of profitability in the arable sector. Photograph: Diane Randell/Alamy

Record heat and drought cost Britain’s arable farmers more than £800m in lost production in 2025 in one of the worst harvests recorded, analysis has estimated.

Three of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred since 2020, leaving some farmers asking whether the growing impacts of the climate crisis are making it too financially risky to sow their crops. Farmers are already facing heavy financial pressure as the costs of fertilisers and other inputs have risen faster than prices.

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