UK Farming and Extreme Weather

UK growers and farmers are adapting to hotter, drier conditions, water shortages, and episodes of flooding that can disrupt crops, livestock pasture, and harvests.

The effects vary by crop: cauliflower and calabrese are especially vulnerable to heat and water stress, while berries and warmer-season crops can sometimes benefit from higher temperatures when supported by irrigation or protected cultivation. Responses include improving soils, storing rainwater, using mulch and shade, changing crop varieties, expanding wetlands and reservoirs, and managing hedges, trees, and grazing to retain water and reduce flood flows. Together, these measures illustrate the practical challenge of maintaining food production as weather becomes less predictable.