Drought warning for 2026: CLA calls for urgent action

The CLA is calling for urgent action after a new Environment Agency report warned that unless we have sustained rainfall this winter, England could face widespread drought in 2026.

The Drought Prospects for Spring 2026 report says the country faces a drought next year unless we have at least average rainfall this winter. This follows one of the driest years on record.

Under very dry scenarios, most of England would start the spring in drought with widespread impacts felt by people, farmers, businesses and nature.

The Met Office has indicated a higher-than-usual likelihood of dry conditions over three months from November to January.

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan said:

“The Environment Agency needs to grant farmers more flexibility on abstraction licences to capture available water during high-flow conditions, not only when flood warnings are in place, and better resource its abstraction licencing unit.

“Defra must re-open SFI, and the revised scheme should place greater emphasis on improving soil health which is essential to coping with drier weather. Longer-term, government departments need to work together to make it easier and cheaper for farmers to build small on-farm reservoirs.

“The unprecedented dry conditions that parts of the country have experienced this year are proving extremely challenging for farmers. Urgent action is needed to minimise the impact of future drought on food production and nature recovery. Most farmers have already committed to next year's cropping, and have limited opportunity to adapt this.”

The CLA encourages members to create contingency plans if insufficient water becomes available to consider what to prioritise, and check reservoirs and pipes for leaks.