UK Farmers Struggle Amid Driest Spring Since 1852, Crops Stunted

As the United Kingdom grapples with its driest spring since records began in 1852, the country’s farming community is facing a crisis that could have far-reaching consequences. With just 80.6 millimetres of rainfall recorded since March, significantly lower than the previous low of 100.7 millimetres set over 170 years ago, the land has turned dry and cracked, leaving crops struggling to survive.

On his sprawling 400-hectare farm near Peterborough in eastern England, 36-year-old Luke Abblitt watches helplessly as his sugar beets and potatoes barely push through the hardened soil. The lack of rain has brought his agricultural operation to a critical point. “I'm not quite sure how I'm going to handle it on the farm,” he says. “I'm hoping that we're going to get some rain, if not then I'll have to somehow magically do something.”

The visual state of his crops speaks volumes. What should be lush fields of vibrant growth are instead populated with weak, underdeveloped shoots. The tiny green leaves of sugar beets are "at least half the size they should be," Abblitt laments. In a neighbouring field, he and his father struggle to plant potatoes, trying to break through soil that's baked solid from weeks of uninterrupted sunshine.

According to the UK’s national weather agency, the Met Office, this spring may go down as the driest in modern history, though the final confirmation awaits the end of May. The Environment Agency has already raised alarms, stating that reservoir levels are now “exceptionally low.” A special meeting of the national drought group was held last week, and the deputy director of water, Richard Thompson, warned that due to climate change, "we will see more summer droughts in the coming decades."

This prediction is being felt today. Water suppliers, represented by Water UK, have begun moving supplies between regions in an effort to relieve the hardest-hit areas. The crisis echoes back to July 2022 when Britain experienced its hottest day on record with temperatures soaring past 40°C (104°F).

For farmers like Abblitt, the challenge goes beyond dry soil. It affects business, sustainability, and the national food supply chain. Potatoes, for example, require large amounts of water to grow to a commercially viable size. Without rainfall, yields will shrink, affecting distribution to key markets, including Britain’s iconic fish and chip shops. “I need to make sure they're a fair size, because everyone wants big chips, no one wants tiny chips, do they?” he said with a mix of humour and worry.

Abblitt, like many others in the UK farming community, is already thinking about the long-term consequences of climate change. “The weather is going from one extreme to the other,” he notes. “We're having a lot of rain in the wintertime, not so much rain in the spring or summertime. We need to adapt our cultivation methods, look at different varieties, different cropping possibly to combat these adverse weather conditions.”

Liz Bentley, the chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, supports that assessment. She points out that severe droughts used to strike Britain every 16 years, but now they occur once every five years, and by the 2030s, we may experience one every three years. “They’re likely to become more frequent, and they’re likely to be more prolonged,” she warns.

The effects of a failed harvest could soon be felt in supermarkets across the country. With supply dwindling and demand steady or growing, prices for staple produce are expected to rise. The National Farmers’ Union has reported that many farmers have begun irrigating earlier than usual, but such emergency measures are not sustainable. They’ve called for increased investment in water storage and collection systems to help mitigate the impact of future droughts.

Rachel Hallos, Vice President of the NFU, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Extreme weather patterns are impacting our ability to feed the nation,” she said. Farmers are also struggling with regulatory delays. Abblitt, for instance, applied for a license to install an irrigation system two years ago and is still waiting for approval.

“I’m just praying for the rain,” he says, echoing the desperation felt by thousands of farmers across the UK. With climate change intensifying weather extremes, and infrastructure slow to adapt, Britain’s agricultural sector stands on uncertain ground.

The current drought is not just a seasonal anomaly — it’s a symptom of a changing climate. Unless decisive action is taken to future-proof farming through better water management, resilient crop varieties, and rapid regulatory reforms, the country may face more than just stunted crops. It may face a food security crisis in the years ahead. For now, all farmers can do is hope for rain — and brace for a future where hope might not be enough.