2026 drought: NFU action and advocacy timeline
England and Wales are experiencing one of the driest periods in decades, placing increasing pressure on food production and farm businesses. Follow the NFU’s work throughout 2026 as we engage government, regulators and industry partners to strengthen drought resilience and secure the water farmers need.
This timeline tracks the NFU’s work to help farmers manage immediate drought pressures and secure long-term water resilience for food production.
Labour MPs highlight need for drought resilience
Labour MPs write to Defra Secretary of State Dame Angela Eagle highlighting the need for drought resilience.
NFU updates Minister Hardy at third National Drought Group
National Drought Group meet with Minister Hardy as chair where Paul Tompkins put five key asks from NFU to support agriculture.
NFU President meets Defra Secretary of State to discuss water resilience
NFU President Tom Bradshaw met with the Defra Secretary of State Dame Angela Eagle and discussed the growing drought pressure.
Tom stressed that the government needs to show that they are prioritising water as a critical national infrastructure for food production.
Third meeting of National Drought Group
NFU attended the third meeting of NDG highlighting what has been achieved by better communications in South Level with the Environment Agency.
NFU launches its harvest survey
The challenges facing UK agriculture require urgent, coordinated action.
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows sets why giving government a picture of 2026 yields, crop quality, and what members seeing from this year's extreme weather all help the NFU build an accurate national picture – one that strengthens the case when we take these issues to government.
Paul Tompkins attends second NDG of 2026
Paul Tompkins attended his first National Drought Group meeting on behalf of the NFU, raising members’ concerns about water availability and drought resilience.
NFUonline looks back at 1976
As summer heatwaves become increasingly frequent, British Farmer and Grower Deputy Editor Gary Young reports on what the 1976 drought tells us about the future of farming.
NFU attend Drought Hydrology Conference: 50 Years since 1976
The NFU engages water stakeholders on the scale and urgency of British farming’s needs when it comes to water for food production.
First weekly meeting bringing together Area Environment Agency team
First weekly meeting of Area Environment Agency team, Ely Group IDBs, water abstractor groups and NFU in South Level following on from learnings of 2025.
First meeting of the National Drought Group for 2026
In this first meeting the National Drought Group looked ahead to potential challenges and solutions.
The NFU chair the 2025 EA’s drought learning workshop
The NFU chair the Environment Agency's 2025 drought learning workshop, helping identify lessons and priorities for future drought planning.
NFU submits evidence to House of Lords report
NFU gives evidence to House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee report ‘‘Surviving drought: reclaim the rain.’ on learning from 2025 drought.
The NFU raises drought concerns
Areas of the country still being in drought in December is serious cause for concern, the NFU has said today, following the National Drought Group's announcement that the country is beginning to recover from this summer’s drought.
Explore our work on key issues
