Drought
Agricultural drought impact summer 2018 - Industry briefing
Insight from the latest datasets, anticipates potential impacts, and draws on the views and opinions of our sector experts. It also examines historical parallels, looking at previous prolonged dry spells.
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What's happening on farm: August
Views from across our Farm Excellence network on the continued hot weather and dry conditions
What's happening on farm: July
Views from across our Farm Excellence network on the 2018 heat wave and resulting drought
Drought resources
Dairy: Forage stocks & forward planning
Cross sector advice on how to be prepared in the event of fire on farm
Alternative bedding for pigs (for when there’s a straw shortage)
The effect of the weather on Freezing Point Depression (FPD)
How to manage your grass once the rain comes
Top tips for coping with dry and warm conditions - Siwan Howatson, Dairy Scientist - Forage & Grassland
Dairy: Managing heat stress in dairy cattle webinar
Potatoes: Support and monitoring resources available as heatwave enters another week
Heat stress in livestock - by Dr Norman Weatherup, Senior Beef & Sheep Technologist, CAFRE, Greenmount Campus
Advice on managing grass and forage stocks
Useful links
- AHDB Weather Hub
- Met office live UK climate summaries
- Environment Agency Water situation reports for england
- European Drought Observatory
- EU Commission, Reports of Severe Drought Events
- NFU dry weather advice
- Teagasc summer drought conditions
- Dairy NZ:Farming Out the Drought/
- Dairy NZ:summer-management/
Support and advice from farming charities
Farming Community Network
Tel: 03000 111 999
www.fcn.org.uk
Farming Help
Tel: 0845 367 9990
www.farminghelp.org.uk
Samaritans
www.samaritans.org/branches
RABI
Tel: 0808 2819490
www.rabi.org.uk
You Are Not Alone (YANA)
Tel: 0300 323 0400
www.yanahelp.org/
Forage Aid
Tel: 07967 219991
www.forageaid.org.uk
Latest drought articles
8 August 2018
We've caught up with more of our Farm Excellence network to find out more about the impact the hot weather is having on the farms.
3 August 2018
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) estimates that the total area in Great Britain planted with potatoes is 119,000 hectares(ha), a fall of three per cent on the previous year
3 August 2018
This article by our Market Intelligence team looks into the impact of the heatwave on ewe feed usage.
3 August 2018
Insight into how the drought affects cattle feed usage.
23 July 2018
Views from across our Farm Excellence network on the 2018 heat wave and resulting drought
Drought resources
1 January 2001
Our latest advice on common scab control, information on varietal resistance to the disease. The timing of first irrigation based on varieties and soil type. Improve marketable yield, Maximise quality and reduce defects, Increase water use efficiency, Reduce nutrient, soil and water loss
1 January 2015
What to look out for and how to handle your cattle during extreme weather events such as droughts and heat waves
3 August 2018
With most of the country recently experiencing dry and warm conditions, it’s important that beef and lamb farmers consider the affect heat can have on their livestock. We’ve pulled together our top tips for cattle and sheep to prevent heat stress.
1 January 2001
Heat stress must be avoided in order to prevent unnecessary suffering and reduced productivity in indoor herds
18 July 2018
Pigs kept outdoors are particularly vulnerable to radiant heat gain and it is important that they have access to shade in sunny weather. There are a number of ways in which producers can minimise heat stress
3 August 2018
Dr Mark Stalham and Dr Marc Alison on NIAB CUF discuss nitrogen top-ups on 26/07/2018
3 August 2018
Dr Mark Stalham of NIAB CUF discusses options for burn-off in drought conditions, after updated advice was issued on the use of Reglone.
3 August 2018
Dr Mark Stalham of NIAB CUF discusses the options available to prevent in-field sprouting.
11 July 2018
The recent hot weather and low rainfall has resulted in an agricultural drought situation with soil moisture at the end of June the driest on record for the UK as a whole.
29 June 2018
AHDB is reminding farmers and growers to review their water usage and take steps to build resilience into their long-term supply, as temperatures hit record highs this week.
Relevant AHDB Research Projects
Sector |
Title |
Full Title |
AHDB Contact |
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Beef & Lamb R&D |
Extension of feed planning tool development (phase II) |
Liz Genever |
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Reducing Water Use in the Meat Supply Chain for Cattle & Sheep |
Dylan Laws |
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Horticulture R&D |
Developing a water strategy for UK horticulture |
Anne Stone |
|
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Impact of irrigation practices on Rijnsburger bulb onion husbandry, quality and storability ? II |
Cathryn Lambourne |
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|
TF PO 001: FERTINNOWA - Sustainable Water use in Fertigated crops |
FERTINNOWA - Sustainable Water use in Fertigated crops |
Georgina Key |
|
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Potatoes R&D |
Late season water management in potatoes |
Alice Sin |
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Potatoes R&D |
Common scab control - Reducing the irrigation water requirements and the effect of beneficial soil microorganisms and biofumigation |
Sue Cowgill |
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|
R&D |
CP 159: The resilience of potato and horticulture businesses to changes in abstraction licensing |
The resilience of potato and horticulture businesses to changes in abstraction licensing |
Anne Stone |