Climate crisis: Extreme weather means UK faces worst wheat yields in 40 years, farmers’ union says

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Extreme weather in Britain means the country is facing the worst wheat yields since 1980, the National Farmers’ Union has warned. The NFU’s vice president Tom Bradshaw said: “Farmers have seen very challenging conditions across the country with heavy rain during winter, meaning tough planting conditions, followed by one of the driest springs on record so establishing crops was difficult and winter drilled crops lacked any spring growth. “This combined weather pattern has resulted in the UK’s lowest wheat crop area in 40 years this summer and we expect yields to strike a similar multi-decade low.” He added: “This demonstrates the volatility that can be experienced across a farming year and why food production and food security must be taken seriously.” The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported earlier in the summer that overall wheat planting had dropped by 25 per cent from 2019 to 1.4m hectares, with many farmers instead planting spring barley or oats. “Persistent rain throughout autumn and winter altered many growers’ intentions, with them switching to plant spring crops when unable to get their winter crops drilled.” All of the UK’s 10 warmest years on record have come since 2002, with scientists warning the climate crisis is having a significant impact on British weather patterns.