
More than 80% of UK farmers worried about climate crisis harming livelihood, study finds
Farmers have warned that global heating risks Britain's supplies of home-grown food amid wild swings in weather conditions, in new research carried out by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).
The study found that 87% of farmers have experienced reduced productivity in the face of recent extreme weather, 84% had suffered a fall in crop yields, and more than three-quarters had taken a hit to their income.
The survey of 300 UK farmers found that, in the past five years, 78% of farmers had been hit by drought and more than half had suffered the consequences of heatwaves.
In stark contrast, just 2% of farmers had not experienced extreme weather in some form.
It comes as Britain's largest retailers warned that food prices have been pushed up by hot weather hitting harvest yields. The British Retail Consortium trade body, representing more than 200 large UK retailers, has drawn a direct link between the climate crisis and prices for consumers.
Tom Lancaster, an analyst at the ECIU, said: 'Farmers are on the frontline of climate change and this research reveals what impact that is having on them and their businesses.'
A recent study found that income from UK arable crops fell by more than £1bn last year, which was one of the worst in decades. Fears are now growing for the 2025 harvest after the warmest – and one of the driest – springs on record.
Anthony Curwen, an arable farmer from Kent, said: 'It's getting increasingly difficult to farm given the impacts we're now seeing with climate change. We've gone from extreme drought to biblical floods and back to drought in the space of just a few years. It's devastating and many of us in farming now fear for a sustainable future.'
Sign up to Business Today
Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning
after newsletter promotion
The government is facing pressure to offer greater support for farmers to adapt to the climate crisis. Nearly 60% of farmers have cited the need for greater long-term certainty in the design of green farming schemes across the UK.
Curwen added: 'What we need most now from government is a bit of stability and some better support to help us become resilient to these impacts. In an era when the climate is giving us a kicking, we need government to have our back, not add to the uncertainty.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Woodside Ferry Terminal set to reopen in autumn after delay
The reopening of a ferry terminal in Wirral has been pushed back to autumn due to site at Woodside had been due to open this summer but a representative of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: "Unfortunately, delays in manufacturing off site has resulted in this being pushed back until autumn 2025."They said the authority was "working closely with the contractor to minimise these delays by increasing resources".The upgraded terminal would be ready to welcome the new £26m Mersey Ferry, due to be launched by the summer of 2026, they added. The terminal closed in 2022 before work started on a £8.6m scheme to transform the Council is also investing millions of pounds on changes to the waterfront around Woodside and nearby Hamilton Square, along with plans for a new U-Boat museum, the Local Democracy Reporting Service include new cycle lanes and walking the longer term, a masterplan includes the building of 1,700 homes, two new hotels, major leisure facilities and an outside event space looking out onto the River Mersey. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.


BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Durham County Council proposes capping council tax support
A local authority's plan to overhaul its Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) could lead to its poorest residents being required to pay more towards their County Council plans to make changes to its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), which currently allows low-earners to apply for a discount of up to 100% off their councillor Nicola Lyons said the current scheme was one of the "most generous in the country" and the council was considering capping discounts as part of cost-saving efforts. Debt charity StepChange said it could not comment on specific policies, but it did not believe "reducing support for the poorest is the answer" to council funding pressures. Richard Lane, the charity's chief client office, said: "StepChange has called for the government to increase funding for council tax support to ensure councils can continue to offer residents with the lowest incomes 100% reductions. "Ultimately, unaffordable council tax bills lead to counter-productive debt collection and enforcement that harms the worst off and leads to higher health and social costs linked to problem debt." Council tax options The council said it was considering holding a consultation on four possible options for the CTRS first would allow residents to apply for a discount of up to 100% off their bills, depending on their remaining options would require residents to pay a minimum of 10%, 20% or 25% of their full county council said it was required to save £45m by 2028-29 to balance its books and CTRS currently costs more than £60m a year. It estimated the proposed change would save between £3.8m and £10.35m each year. The current system also requires residents' bills to be recalculated every time a change is made to their Universal Credit (UC) council said last year the average UC claimant received 11 council tax bills, which cost the council £175,000 in printing and postage. Reform UK recently took control of the authority and promised to carry out a Elon Musk-style review into "wasteful spending".Lyons said the county has "one of the most generous council tax support schemes in the country"."The changes to CTRS we are looking to consult on, would ensure we can continue to provide this much-need support, while taking into account the increasing financial pressure local councils are under," she said. "None of the potential changes would impact on pension-age households."If the council's cabinet approves the consultation, it will be carried out between 16 July and 23 September. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
Top 10 Wimbledon star ‘BANNED by his sponsor' for selling broken racquets for £5,000 a pop
HOLGER RUNE has landed himself in hot water with a sponsor for flogging broken racquets at £5,000 a pop, according to reports. The Danish star, 22, recently raised eyebrows by launching a new online shop. The site allows fans to purchase various items worn and signed by Rune, with most priced at around £150. When the online shop launched, it also listed signed broken racquets for approximately £5,000 each. Rune is sponsored by racquet manufacturer Babolat. Per Clay Magazine, Babolat chief Marion Cornu said earlier this week: "It's not our intention to promote broken racquets. "We're in talks with his agent. Obviously, it's not our intention to promote broken racquets. "We have to be consistent with our values, so we're working on that issue with his representatives." Following Cornu's criticism, the broken racquets are no longer listed on Rune's online shop, although it's claimed that one was sold. SunSport has contacted Rune's team for comment. The online shop states that "part of the profits" earned go towards charities of Rune's choice. Several kits and caps remain on sale. Female Wimbledon star forced to lift up skirt as she is questioned over breaking all-white dress code Rune was beaten in round one of Wimbledon this week. The No8 seed surrendered a two-sets lead to lose 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 to qualifier Nicolas Jarry. Rune gave little credit to Jarry after the match, instead blaming his defeat on a knee injury. The former world No4 said: "If I play normal, I'm beating him nine out of 10 times, with all respect for Nicolas Jarry. "Obviously today didn't make it a lot easier with my knee, but yeah, it was not great." Rune subsequently added on social media: "Not a happy ending for me on the grass this year. Will have my knee checked and keep you updated. Good luck Jarry for the rest of Wimbledon." 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19