UK farmers have warned that, if predictions that the drought will last until next summer prove accurate, they will not be able to grow crops next year. Currently, there are concerns that because reservoirs are still empty due to record dry conditions, the fruit and vegetable supply chain could collapse.
On Friday, the government announced that the drought in England was expected to last for many months, with further restrictions on water use under consideration. Though rainfall levels were average across most of the country in September, this was not enough to dampen the soil and refill reservoirs after a dry and scorching summer. Consistent above-average rainfall is needed throughout the autumn and winter to bring England out of drought, and this is not likely.
This could spell disaster for the agriculture sector, which has already faced reduced yields for crops including potatoes and barley.
Source: theguardian.com