Farmers feel heat from climate change

The survey, carried out by the Farming Futures project, revealed that the effects of global warming are already being felt by the UK's farming sector, with beef farmers seeing the most risks to their business from climate change.

Sixty per cent of farmers expressed concerns about the increasingly unpredictable weather and, following the terrible floods last year, 44% were worried about further flooding.

Katie Zabel, Farming Futures project manager, said: "The survey results show that English farmers are already affected by climate change and they are starting to take action to both adapt their businesses, and reduce their own impacts.

"Climate change will affect us all, so for farmers and land managers to continue running successful, sustainable businesses in future, they need to think about on-farm adaptation and mitigation action.

"English farmers and land managers really are part of the solution to climate change. Taking action now can help reduce costs and risks in the future."

Farming Futures is an industry-led collaboration project between the NFU, CLA, AIC, AHRF, Forum for the Future and Defra to communicate practical action on climate change. Its website offers information and practical ideas to help farmers and landowners make their business more resilient to climate change.

Fact sheets on every farming sector and topical environmental issues such as anaerobic digestion, water and biomass can be downloaded from the website at www.farmingfutures.org.uk.

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