Farmers and growers urgently need secure, reliable access to water to enable them to continue producing food for the UK's 29 million households.

This was the warning from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) after the Environment Agency declared parts of England as officially in drought today (July 29).

Following record-low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures, large parts of central, eastern, and southern England are now experiencing a flash drought, the Environment Agency said.

It explained: "The current drought now means there have been three droughts in the past five years: 2022, 2025, and now 2026.

Dry spring

 "The winter rainfall helped replenish reservoirs and groundwater, helping us through a dry spring without any major impacts."    

However, the Environment Agency said the summer had continued to be exceptionally hot and dry:

"July has seen just 7% of expected rainfall, falling to 1% across southern England - and there is no substantial rain on the way."  

Chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Will Lang, said: “The warm and exceptionally dry conditions experienced across much of England over recent months are continuing to have a significant impact.

He added that despite indications of "occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations", there was currently little indication that widespread, sustained rainfall was on the way.

"Combined with three heatwaves, including 12 consecutive days of temperatures above 30°, our water storage has begun to deplete.

"The higher temperatures also mean water is evaporating from soils and vegetation, making wildfires more likely," Lang said. 

According to the Environment Agency, a fourth heatwave was now under way, and "the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber alerts for the east midlands, east of England, London, and the south-east".  

More extreme conditions

Addressing the drought announcement, NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins said: "Across every sector and every part of the country, farmers and growers are seeing first-hand the impact of dry weather and drought."

He added that the more extreme conditions were "making it harder, riskier and more costly to produce the nation’s food".

"Water is a vital ingredient in food production, and without a secure supply, we cannot build resilient farm businesses or strengthen the country’s food security," Tomkins said.

He stressed, however, that there were practical steps government and the water supply chain could take now.

"That means creating a risk register for vulnerable farm businesses, improving local communications, being as adaptable as possible with abstraction so farmers can access water when it rains, and unlocking the investment and planning changes needed to build more reservoirs."