Government plans to make an additional £65 million available to help farmers cope with drought, extreme heat and wildfire risk have been given a cautious welcome, but questions remain over where the money is coming from and whether other areas of farming support will be affected.
The Government has announced a £65 million package of support for farmers in England, including funding for on-farm reservoirs, greater flexibility within environmental schemes and measures to improve access to water during dry conditions.
The announcement comes after a summer in which drought has been declared across much of England, with the South West among the hardest-hit areas. Many Devon farmers have faced difficult decisions over water supplies, crops and livestock.
However, Devon County Council says the county’s farmers are also battling the growing impact of Bluetongue, a livestock disease that is affecting farms across Devon and the wider region.
The council has urged Government to take stronger action on Bluetongue and has expressed disappointment that the issue was not publicly acknowledged during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to the South West.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and a sheep farmer herself, has written to ministers calling for urgent support.
She is asking for faster and simpler testing, clearer reporting of affected farms, better communication with farmers about local cases, reliable vaccine supplies, financial support for affected businesses, consideration of safe and practical options for on-farm disposal of dead stock where appropriate, and a longer-term plan to help manage livestock diseases such as Bluetongue.
France has shown what a stronger government response can look like. During the BTV-3 outbreak in 2024, the French Government funded millions of vaccine doses and made them available free to farmers.
The UK Government should consider a similar approach, taking Bluetongue seriously and providing the financial and practical support needed to protect livestock, animal welfare and farming businesses, Councillor Cottle-Hunkin argues.
She said:
“Any additional support for farmers facing drought and extreme weather is welcome, particularly after such a challenging summer.
“However, it appears this £65 million is being found through reprioritisation within Defra’s existing farming budget rather than being genuinely new funding. Farmers will want to see the detail and understand what is being reduced elsewhere to pay for it.
“Farmers across Devon are under pressure from more than one direction. Alongside the dry weather and wildfire risk, many are now dealing with the very real impact of Bluetongue on their livestock and their businesses.
“France has shown that a Government can take decisive action when livestock disease threatens farming communities. We need to see that same level of seriousness here.
“We need stronger action on Bluetongue, including faster testing, better communication, reliable access to vaccines, financial support for affected businesses and consideration of practical options for the safe disposal of dead stock.
"The Government must work with the industry to tackle the immediate challenges and put in place a long-term plan that gives farmers confidence for the future, while ensuring animal welfare remains at the heart of the response.
“Our farmers produce food, support rural jobs and care for the countryside. They are resilient, but they cannot be expected to face these challenges alone.”
The council says the drought support package could help some farming businesses if delivered quickly, but that ministers need to be transparent about how it will be funded and ensure that other important areas of agricultural support are not weakened as a result.
The council also says further action is needed to help farms deal with the continuing spread of Bluetongue across the South West, with farmers needing practical, financial and veterinary support to protect livestock, safeguard animal welfare and maintain viable farming businesses.
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