Archive · 16 Aug 2026
UK PM Burnham announces £65m support for drought-hit farmers
England is having a very hot, dry summer and there has not been enough rain, which is called a drought.
Because of the dry weather, many farmers' plants are not growing well and some farmers lost their whole harvests.
The leader of the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, decided to help the farmers.
He promised 65 million pounds to help them, including money to build water storage.
The money will also help build new reservoirs, which are big lakes that save water.
Some places in England had wildfires, and people got text alerts warning them to be careful with disposable barbecues.
The government is also planning nine new reservoirs and almost 100 million pounds to help fight wildfires.
It has been a very hot summer, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
The government says the dry weather should not change the country's food supply, but it wants to help farmers become stronger against future hot, dry weather.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged a £65 million support package for farmers affected by England's heatwave and drought.
The package includes an extra £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, bringing its total budget to £290 million.
Up to £15 million will fund on-farm reservoirs to help farmers store water.
Emergency text alerts were authorised to warn against disposable barbecue use as wildfires raged across the West Midlands.
Plans include nine new reservoirs and around £100 million to strengthen wildfire and extreme weather response ahead of more heatwaves.
- Who
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and UK Environment Secretary Angela Eagle
- What
- Announced a £65 million government support package for farmers hit by prolonged heatwave and drought conditions
- When
- Announced on Saturday, after an emergency COBRA meeting earlier in the week during the UK's fifth heatwave of the summer
- Where
- England, with wildfires also affecting the West Midlands region
- Why
- Prolonged high temperatures and ongoing drought have caused low yields and lost harvests for farmers
Government's defence
Critics' concerns
Use of emergency text alerts
Government's defence
Alerts were necessary because 'Britain was a tinderbox' with multiple fires smouldering across the country, and they cautioned against using disposable barbecues.
Critics' concerns
The nationwide alert system is designed for extreme risk to life situations and should not be used for lesser warnings like barbecue safety.
Severity of the impact on food supply
Government's defence
Downing Street said the UK has a resilient food system and the dry weather is not expected to affect national food security.
Critics' concerns
Farmers are 'at the sharp end of a changing climate' facing low incomes, higher costs and lost harvests in the third drought in five years, and should not carry that risk alone.
- Support package
- £65 million for English farmers
- Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 boost
- Extra £50 million (total £290 million)
- On-farm reservoir funding
- Up to £15 million
- New reservoirs planned
- 9
- Wildfire and extreme weather response investment
- Around £100 million
- Summer heatwave count
- Fifth heatwave of the summer
- Peak temperature
- 38 degrees Celsius
- Train derailments
- Two in less than 24 hours