The UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology is forecasting the drought conditions in the South West to last until October, as the ‘exceptionally low’ rivers and groundwater levels struggle to recover. Many farms are expecting these conditions to become increasingly common. Ed notes that at Riverford, they haven’t run out of water in 30 years. Now, it has happened twice in the last four years. ‘Extreme weather events are having more of an impact than anything. A steady rise in temperature/aridity is one thing, but we’re also seeing extra dry, extra cold and extra wet weather at unpredictable times, which makes it incredibly difficult, almost impossible to plan for.’
