The 2023 weather conditions in Lincolnshire, UK, significantly impacted Andrew Branton's farm, leading to an unharvestable potato crop due to excessive rainfall. Approximately a year's worth of rain from late September to January submerged many fields, rendering the soil too wet and compacted for sowing spring crops.
The situation on Branton's farm mirrors the broader climate challenges faced across Europe, marked as the fourth-wettest year on record. The continent experienced its warmest years recently, with rising temperatures at about twice the global average rate. This climatic shift has led to both extreme rainfall and heatwaves, affecting agriculture and causing significant economic losses. Europe's climate in 2023, as reported by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation, underscores the ongoing adjustments required in farming practices and broader societal changes to mitigate and adapt to these evolving weather patterns.
Source: news.sky.com
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