Farmers across the south in a "desperate situation" due to drought
The lack of rainfall is causing a range of issues including less arable crops, less food for livestock and price pressures
Last updated 28th Aug 2025
Hampshire and Isle of Wight farmers say they're in a "desperate situation" as they face drought impacts.
They say the drought is impacting livestock food supply, arable crops and prices, meaning some farmers are having to give up their stock.
Farmers say it's not only impacting them financially, but it's also impacting their mental health.
Robyn Munt, an Isle of Wight sheep farmer and NFU Regional Board Chair for the South, said: "It's been an ongoing challenge.
"You keep looking at long-term weather forecasts and there's just been no rain.
"We've seen some real issues around grazing and keeping water in front of sheep has been a bit of a full time job.
"I think people think about it with cattle, but maybe don't think about it with sheep.
"They do drink a lot and when there's nothing in the food that they're eating and so little moisture in the ground, we're having to put water on."
The National Farmers' Union's been pushing for mass derogation to make it possible for livestock to graze on ground which might have had environmental limitations on it earlier.
They also say they're calling for "decisive and proactive" action from Defra to help farmers to plan ahead with weather difficulties.
We have approached Defra for comment.
Tom Peters, NFU South County Adviser for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "The drought has really affected all aspects of farming and agriculture.
"Probably the most critical piece at this time is the worry for livestock farmers with the severe lack of forage.
"We're already seeing farmers feeding their winter rations or food they'd made earlier in the spring and summer to their animals now, which they wouldn't be expecting to feed until October, November.
"But because there's no grass because of lack of rainfall, they're having to supplementary feed them with their winter forage, which is really worrying.
"On top of that, we've had one of the earliest, if not the earliest ever, cereal harvest in the country, with significantly lower yields, especially for crops like wheat and barley."
Ms Munt says farmers' mental health is also struggling.
She set up the Wight Rural Hub to bring people in the farming communities together and to help each other on the Isle of Wight.
She said: "We are seeing the pressures on people locally and I think all of us are just trying to make sure that our neighbours are doing okay, and doing what we can for each other.
"Ultimately, the farming community is incredibly resilient when it comes to situations like this, and we're really good at looking out for each other.
"But what worries me is that if you're getting one phone call, there are probably three other people that aren't phoning.
"I would encourage anybody out there to reach out to whatever organisation they feel comfortable giving a shout to, or just pick up the phone to a neighbour and say you need a hand, because there is support there."
Ms Munt says she worries for the winter months after farmers have had to use their winter forage rations now.
She added: "People will be thinking about when they're going to be getting rid of stock, which might be earlier; which when you've got more livestock hitting markets in more quantities, rather than being spread across the season, that can have implications on prices.
"Thinking about where you can afford to invest in buying new stock, whether or not you've got enough to feed them, and even just being able to move forage around the country.
"There's a real variability on where has and hasn't had rain.
"But you know, moving forage from the North of England to the South of England carries a significant amount of expense, and obviously buying supplement feed as well, you've got to be buying in extra things to bulk out what you've got, but that's also going to carry an extra cost.
"Then bear in mind the financial pressures that farming businesses are feeling at the moment, with the reduction in farm payments and the closure of farm schemes, there'll be some very serious maths being done on farms to work out what you can afford to do over the next 12 months, without a doubt."