Support for Farmers Facing Drought Conditions Across England

Measures include changes to ELM agreements, additional SFI funding and support for on-farm reservoirs

The Government has announced a package of measures to help farmers in England manage the effects of prolonged dry weather and prepare for future drought conditions.

Temporary adjustments will be made to Environmental Land Management (ELM) agreements. Farmers and land managers will be able to cut and graze land covered by agreements, create firebreaks and have additional time to establish actions where dry conditions have prevented planting.

These changes will not affect payments. They apply to eligible Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship agreements. As of 15 August 2026, all counties in England meet the criteria for these adjustments.

A further £50 million will be added to SFI26 Window 2, bringing the total budget for new agreements to £290 million. The window will open to all farmers in September. Support can cover activities including soil, livestock, nutrient and fertiliser management and farm wildlife. Actions such as cover crops and no-till farming can also help improve soil moisture retention.

The Water Management Grant is also being reopened, with up to £15 million available for on-farm reservoirs. The grant is expected to open in autumn and will focus on water storage for crop irrigation, particularly supporting the horticulture and arable sectors.

The package also includes measures to simplify the development of reservoirs and improve access to water during drought conditions. The Environment Agency will prioritise requests for short-term variations to abstraction licence conditions.

The measures apply to England only, as farming is devolved. The Government said it will continue monitoring drought conditions and may take further action if required.