Farmers across the UK are grappling with the consequences of record-breaking rainfall over the past 18 months, leading to a sharp decline in domestic food production. The Met Office recorded 1,695.9mm of rain from October 2022 to March 2024, the highest for any 18-month period in England. Fields have been underwater since last autumn, devastating livestock and crops.
Tom Allen-Stevens, a farmer and agriculture journalist from Oxfordshire, described the situation as extraordinary. He has managed to plant only 30 of his 170 hectares, less than a third of his croppable land. 'Usually, you get rain but there will be pockets of dry weather for two or three weeks at a time to do the planting. That simply hasn't happened,' he said. The relentless rain has prevented autumn planting, and many farmers face thousands of unplanted hectares.
In Leeds, vegetable grower Rhian Williams reported that fields have no chance to dry out, preventing tractor use for major plantings like potatoes and onions. Her community-supported agriculture farm has focused on polytunnels, but this cannot meet demand. 'The hungry gap is going to be way longer than usual,' she warned, adding that buying in produce will be more expensive due to widespread grower impacts.
Livestock farmers are also affected. One farmer noted a lower lambing percentage and the need to condense work into small weather windows, often working extended hours. Most cattle remain indoors due to waterlogged pastures.
The crisis has sparked concerns about climate change, with farmers calling for a restructuring of the food system to ensure sustainable production. 'You do wonder whether it is climate change throwing a curveball here,' said Allen-Stevens, pointing to increasingly extreme weather patterns.
