NSA welcomes Government drought support but urges targeted investment in livestock resilience

National Sheep Association (NSA) welcomes the Government’s announcement of an additional £65 million of support for farmers facing the current drought. NSA particularly welcomes the recognition from Defra that farmers are facing serious challenges due to the prolonged hot and dry weather.

The package includes an additional £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026, up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs and measures to help farmers manage water resources during periods of drought. The Government has also announced greater flexibility within environmental land management agreements.

NSA welcomes the recognition of the severity of the situation but says more must be done to address the pressures facing livestock farmers.

Poor grass growth has left many livestock farmers with depleted grazing, while sheep farmers are having to graze fields intended for winter forage, putting further pressure on winter feed supplies.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says the immediate impacts on livestock farms must be recognised while building resilience to increasingly challenging weather patterns.

“We welcome this announcement and, importantly, the recognition from Defra that farmers are facing very difficult conditions because of the drought and extreme weather. For livestock farmers in particular, the impact on grass growth, fodder supplies and ultimately livestock health is becoming increasingly serious.

“We would like to see some of this financial support targeted towards livestock farmers in recognition of the challenges they are facing. But we would not want this to be seen simply as a bail out. What we need is investment in farming systems to make them more resilient and better able to cope with the changing climate.

“For example, there is grassland across the country that is unlikely to recover properly following this drought. Rather than simply helping farmers replace what has been lost, there is an opportunity to invest in re-establishing leys and grassland in ways that make them more resilient to future droughts, heat and changing weather patterns.

“That kind of investment would provide lasting value. It would help farmers recover from the immediate impacts of this drought while also strengthening the ability of livestock farming to continue producing food through increasingly unpredictable seasons.

“The Government has recognised that farmers should not be expected to carry the full risk of a changing climate alone. We now need to make sure that recognition translates into practical support for livestock farmers and investment in the resilience of the farming systems on which our food production depends.”