Herefordshire farmer sees broccoli harvest hit by heatwave and lack of water

In the worst parts of Britain, farmers are facing their worst crop as heatwaves continue to hit the crop and vegetable yield.

Broccoli producers are struggling with lack of water and bone-dry soil, which cuts yields of more than 50%, influenced by quality and shopkeepers warned to expect small vegetables on shelves.

A isfordshire producer told the BBC that there may be a lack of supply if continuous rainfall does not come soon.

The British Growers Association stated that the supply of Bracicus, including broccoli, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, was “tight”, but better crops in the wet parts of the UK should ensure that vegetables still make it in supermarkets.

An independent think tank, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), is now warning that the UK is to see its sixth or seventh worst crop since the record started 40 years ago.

Although the picture of the overall crop is mixed throughout the Britain, farmers have seen less rainfall and the river level is low – and which are producing in light, dried soils that do not hold moisture well – seeing sufficient reduction.

Ben Andrews, who has a mixed organic farm, growing broccoli near the hearfordshire, BBC reported that shopkeepers would have to “move their expectations” about the size and size of vegetables in the supermarket.

He said, because it was grown abroad for Brasikas and imported into Britain, there may also be issues with lack.

“You probably won’t see too much availability and perhaps the small head of broccoli or lettuce or cabbage needs to be accepted.

“I am not sure that the shelves are enough about being empty, but if it continues it is not completely impossible,” he said.

The British Growers Association (BGA) said that the heat “was proving another climate challenge for producers”, but due to lack of some suppliers, more crops were being grown by producers in areas that have seen low temperatures and high rainfall.

BGA CEO Jack Ward said: “In some areas, summer Bracicus supplies, cauliflower and cabbage are tight.

“Other root crops, carrots and onions are kept using irrigation, but there are serious concerns about water supply when the rainfall is released.

“At this stage, we are confident that there will be crops, but the events of the last three months highlight the increasing uncertainty around our food supply.”

Meanwhile, arable farmer Martin Williams, who is also the chairman of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Hearfordshire Branch, said that he saw a decline of 50% in his grain yield, there was a possibility of a third of the normal potato crop, and the grass had dropped by 70% for feed.

He said that the situation was “absolutely, destructively dry” and he is now considering how and what he should do in future.

“Moving forward, it surprises me about the viability of rising grains commodity crops.

“This is a risk-based task, but if I can not increase my risk by not increasing those risky crops, it is probably something that I should see,” he said.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) stated that the extremes of the weather conditions this year were “unprecedented”, the currently “extremely diverse” with the picture of the crop.

Jamie Beroz, chairman of the NFU crops, said that out of the areas where there was rain, farmers were actually looking at “better-and-preferred” yields, while other “are facing important drops that would be sufficient financial implications on their businesses”.

Tom Lancster, head of ECIU’s land, food and farming, said that both wet and drought were taking toll on farmers.

He told the BBC: “I don’t think we should look at this year in separation. It is part of a pattern, coming away from the second worst crop back last year and is the worst crop on record in 2020.

“This is the pattern that we need to be worried about, because these effects on agriculture and on farmers will pile up farmers effectively.”