Your Kent county NFU update

Amanda Corp

Amanda Corp

Kent County Adviser

Weather impacts and fire safety

Many of you will already have finished harvest, during a record-breaking summer for heat and lack of rain.

The NFU has been working hard to collate data across the country of how harvest has been in terms of yields and quality across numerous crops, so please take the time to complete our survey. 

This will help us with our lobbying efforts when it comes to pressing government for further support following the dry harvest. Click here for more information

After another challenging period, County Chair Steven Glover hopes you will be able to come along to the post-harvest summer social, kindly hosted by Hugh Richards on 27 August. See below for full details.

Ploughing matches should also be getting underway in September. Look out for further details about events near you from your local NFU branch.

The lack of rain continues to take its toll on the countryside. Kent is now officially in drought, along with most of the rest of England.  

Please click here for the latest advice and information, as well as our current lobbying asks.

In one positive move, following discussions with the NFU, South East Water is setting up a livestock register so it can support farms during unplanned water interruptions. You can register your business here.

Fire safety remains a huge concern. Kent Fire and Rescue Service has issued an appeal to the public after attending 300 accidental grass fires since the start of May, with more than 130 of those incidents in July alone.

Please try to take as many precautions as possible when conducting field operations and have firefighting equipment on hand where possible. 

Following the significant fire in Essex, that unfortunately set fire to a building containing ammonium nitrate, it is encouraged that you contact the fire service to inform them of the location of fertiliser being stored and the quantity. 

For all of our fire safety and hot weather recommendations, please click here.

Event

Post harvest summer social

All NFU Kent members are invited to a post-harvest summer social, kindly hosted by Hugh Richards.

The evening will begin at 6pm with a farm walk and talk led by Hugh, a Kent beef farmer who has established clover leys and used a spading roll to create deeper rooting in the pastures. 

It will be a great opportunity to see first hand how these have performed during the recent dry conditions, particularly given their ability to develop deep root systems that can access moisture well below the soil surface.

Following the farm walk, members are invited to relax and socialise over a barbecue, providing an excellent opportunity to catch up with fellow farmers and industry colleagues. We look forward to welcoming you for what promises to be an informative and enjoyable evening.

Start date

27 August 2026 at 6:00pm

End date

27 August 2026 at 9:00pm

Location

Pullen Barn Farm, Headcorn Road, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8JA

Email Karen Beer to book your place