With temperatures expected to break records on Thursday, July 25, an agricultural expert said she is worried about the strain rising temperatures are having on the region’s farming community.

Viv Vivers, of Farmers and Mercantile Insurance Brokers (FMIB), said hotter summers are taking a toll on farmers, who are increasingly faced with crop failure concerns, animal welfare issues and wildfire risks.

July 25, the Met Office predicts, could be the hottest July day in UK recorded history, with mercury possibly soaring to 38 degrees. This would surpass the current July record which is 36.7°C set at Heathrow in 2015.

But Vivers highlighted the adverse impact consistent heatwaves are having on farmers, who are still experiencing the fallout from last summer’s drought-like conditions.

She warned, if temperatures continue to rise at record rates over the coming summers, farming businesses will have an uphill battle to survive.

Vivers said: “Although people up and down the country are enjoying a break from the gloomy British summertime, it is sinking in that there are consequences to persistent heatwaves.

“Farmers are increasingly having to deal with extreme weather conditions – the pendulum now swinging between record levels of rainfall to record temperatures.

“According to the Met Office, the summer of 2018 was the joint warmest on record for the UK as a whole and the hottest ever for England.

“It also warned that climate change has made the record breaking 2018 UK summer 30 times more likely to recur – and by 2050, these are likely to happen every other year.

“The summer of 2018 was a challenging one for farmers, who suffered food shortages for livestock and poor harvests.

“This latest heatwave, following on the coattails of the record 2018 summer, gives credence to experts’ warning that extreme heatwaves in the summer could be the new norm, meaning increased volatility and uncertainty for farmers.”

Vivers said that farmers feel the effects of the hot weather in other ways too, including animal welfare issues and fire risks.

“The sad reality is that farmers, particularly smaller operations, are having to deal with all these risk factors on their own. It is hard for them to juggle the responsibilities of keeping their animals and fields healthy in such sustained, adverse weather.”

“Farmers can certainly take steps, such as ensuring there is enough shade and water available for their livestock, ensuring hay stacks are kept out of direct sunlight, away from glass or mirrors, entrances to fields are easily accessible for fire engines and making fire departments aware of sources of water on their land in case of an emergency.

“Many farmers are also using water bowsers when harvesting, as combine harvesters are more prone to catching fire in this heat.

“Anyone who sees a fire should contact the fire authorities right away. Even something as innocuous as a bit of smouldering can quickly escalate and cause extensive damage.”