Shed Talks | Water, water everywhere... but not enough to grow?
In this episode of Shed Talks, hosts Luke Cox and Bizza Walters discuss how farmers are adapting to increasingly extreme weather and why securing reliable water supplies is critical for the future of British food production.
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Luke and Bizza are joined by three guests to explore one of the biggest challenges facing farming today: water.
Speaking with farm manager Tim Pratt, Shropshire farmer and Nuffield Scholar Kate Mayne, and NFU Water Specialist Mark Betson, they discuss the growing pressure on water resources and the stark reality that "we're all competing for water".
In the Westminster section, the team in London reflect on party conference season, ahead of the upcoming Budget.
Securing water for the future
In this episode, NFU National Water Resources Specialist Dr Mark Betson explains how extreme weather is increasing pressure on UK agriculture and why water security is becoming a critical issue for farm businesses.
Following the driest July on record and one of the hottest summers England and Wales have experienced, concerns are growing that parts of the country could remain in drought into 2027.
At the same time, the developing El Niño weather pattern could bring more stormy conditions and an increased risk of flooding this winter, highlighting the need for a more resilient approach to water management.
Dr Mark Betson outlines how the NFU has been working with Defra, the Environment Agency and water companies through the NDG (National Drought Group) to ensure the needs of agriculture are recognised.
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He also highlights recent progress, including funding support for on-farm reservoirs, longer-term water licences and measures to strengthen livestock water resilience, all of which will be vital in helping farmers adapt to a changing climate.
Hear from your Westminster team
NFU Head of External Affairs Scott Pepe and NFU External Affairs Manager Neeve McGinty reflected on the busy party conference season, where the NFU attended all major political party conferences to ensure food and farming remained high on the political agenda.
Scott said: "You can normally get a sense of whether parties are up or down in the polls on how chirpy their members are at party conferences.
"And I think the interesting thing about the five that we went to this time is that everyone was actually pretty chirpy."
They also looked ahead to the Budget, including the NFU's call to extend the Annual Investment Allowance to reservoirs and water storage infrastructure.
To see our 5 key Budget asks, visit: NFU writes to the Chancellor with 5 key asks on the Budget – NFUonline
Planning for a drier future
Kate Mayne, a Shropshire farmer and Nuffield Scholar, talks about the impact of this year's prolonged heat and drought on her mixed farming business.
Despite disappointing performances from crops including potatoes, maize and sugar beet, she explains how a diverse rotation and strong local straw market have helped provide resilience during a difficult season.
Hungry for more? Delve into some topics covered in the latest Shed Talks
Fight for reliable water supplies
Tim Pratt, a farm manager on the Suffolk coast, discusses the severe impact of this year's drought on his business.
Farming on light sandy soils, irrigation is a necessity every year, but the prolonged dry conditions meant crops required watering from early spring through to harvest.
He believes the biggest challenge facing growers is securing reliable long-term access to water, with agriculture often competing against higher-priority users.
Tim argues that certainty over water licences is just as important as funding for new reservoirs and storage infrastructure.
Meet the speakers
Luke Cox
Luke Cox is the senior combinable crops policy adviser at the NFU, working for farmers and growers in the combinable crops sector to represent them on all relevant issues.
Bizza Walters
Bizza is a freelance presenter and social media consultant.
Scott Pepe
As head of external affairs in the NFU’s London team, Scott is responsible for delivering the external affairs strategy, building collaborative relationships with key external politicians, civil servants and stakeholders.
Neeve McGinty
In her role as External Affairs Manager Neeve, coordinates the NFU's lobbying of politicians, civil servants and stakeholders in Westminster.
Sanjay Dhanda
Sanjay heads up the NFU's banking brief as well as being involved in environmental economic issues, such as Green Finance, Carbon Offsetting and Environmental Markets.
Dr Mark Betson
Mark works jointly between the NFU East team and the national environment team providing specialist advice on water resources, focusing on national policy development, representation and member guidance on issues including water efficiency and water pricing.