Britain's Farmers Face £600 Million Loss Due to Poor Harvest
British farmers are facing a collective loss of around £600 million after a dismal harvest produced the second-worst wheat yield on record. The UK's wheat crop fell to 11.1 million tonnes in 2024, down from 14 million tonnes the previous year, according to figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
This decline marks the lowest level since 2020, when pandemic disruptions significantly impacted harvest yields. Wet weather, which hampered sowing and stunted crop growth, was a primary factor in the poor harvest. Additionally, the area of land devoted to wheat cultivation shrank by 11%.
Tom Lancaster from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit attributed the dismal harvest to climate change, stating that it represents a £600 million blow to British agriculture. He emphasized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero to mitigate the worsening impacts of climate change.
Other crops also suffered in the challenging conditions. Cereal and oilseed rape production faced significant challenges, particularly for winter-sown varieties. Across wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed rape, production contracted by 13% this year to 20 million tonnes.
The poor harvest comes at a time when the farming sector is grappling with policy changes and financial pressures. Farmers recently staged protests and blocked roads to deter the government from introducing a new inheritance tax regime that limits long-standing reliefs for agricultural property. Under the planned changes, farmers will only pass on land tax-free if they survive for seven years after doing so, sparking fears that some may take drastic measures due to the stress and uncertainty.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, warned MPs that the looming tax changes could push vulnerable farmers to consider taking their own lives. He emphasized that the policy shift could further undermine the resilience of Britain's farming industry, which is already facing pressure from harvest shortfalls and weather extremes.