After England’s driest spring since 1893, farmers are being advised to take steps to conserve water and secure supplies for their crops.
It’s reported that growers are tapping into stored water earlier than normal for irrigation, and without significant rainfall, there are concerns that water shortages will impact the country later in the summer.
The Environment Agency (EA) says that this extends beyond agriculture, with the environment also showing signs of stress due to the prolonged dry conditions.
Due to this, the EA is offering extra support to help farmers manage supplies, as well as increasing river monitoring and communications of the situation.
Farmers are encouraged to consider how they can conserve water, especially those taking water from reservoirs. This can include reducing leakage and monitoring crop need to conserve water, such as not irrigating when water is likely to be lost to the atmosphere.
Deputy director for Water Resources at the Environment Agency, Richard Thompson, said: “Our officers are working with farmers to ensure they have access to water whilst also protecting the environment. I urge farmers to take action now to conserve water as we enter the summer and to use water resources as efficiently as possible.
“In the longer term, our new National Framework for Water Resources includes a range of measures to help farmers build water resilience, support local water solutions, and build in real-time data to manage water abstraction more sustainably
“As our climate changes, coordinated action is critical to secure our water future, protect food production, and drive resilience and growth across farming and rural communities.”
Last week, the Environment Agency published its Water Resources National Framework which explained that due to climate change and population growth and without sustained action, we will face a daily shortfall of 5 billion litres by 2055.
The plans cover how the agriculture sector can respond, including promoting smart technologies like soil moisture sensors, efficient irrigation systems, and encouraging collaboration through Water Abstractor Groups to boost long-term resilience.