Merseyside farmer: "Harvest disappearing in front of our eyes"
It has been the driest start to spring in 69 years
A Merseyside farmer says he can see harvest disappearing in front of his eyes, following the driest start to spring in 69 years.
It's not looking likely to improve any time soon, with the Environment Agency warning of a "medium" risk of summer drought and potential water restrictions in the months ahead.
It's putting water companies under pressure to do more co cut leaks and help customers save water.
It's the driest start to spring in March and April since 1956, with rainfall well below average for most of the UK.
Across England, reservoir levels are down 6% on the 2022 drought year.
Olly Harrison said:
"Lat year we had around ten-and-a-half inches of rain in the last period of 90 days, whereas this year, we've had two and a bit - so a fifth of the rainfall.
"Admittedly, last year was particularly wet but this year is just ridiculously dry and there's no actual rain forecast for the near future either.
"Harvest disappearing in front of our eyes"
"We can just see harvest disappearing in front of our eyes as it's getting scorched, cracks are opening up in the ground and the plants are wiltering.
"There's not going to be any quality or volume of any wheat or barley yields this year at all.
"Everyone talks about 1976 being dry but I think this year is already drier than that. 2020 was a dry period around this time, but it's started two months earlier this year. February was dry and March was dry, whereas in 2020, February and March were quite wet and there was a bit of water reserve within the soil - we've not even got that any more."