Wiltshire plans drought resilience partnership for farmers

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Wiltshire Council will consider establishing a Rural Resilience and Food Security Partnership to protect farmers from drought and extreme weather.

Wiltshire Council will be asked on 20 October to establish a new Rural Resilience and Food Security Partnership to protect farmers and food supplies from drought amid growing concern about the impact of extreme weather on British agriculture.

Conservative councillors Nabil Najjar and Richard Clewer have proposed the motion. It warns that drought conditions are creating serious pressures for agricultural production, livestock welfare, water supplies, crop yields and farm incomes.

The problems have been highlighted by celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson, whose experiences at Diddly Squat Farm in neighbouring Oxfordshire have brought the challenges facing British agriculture to a wide audience. Clarkson described the farming year as 'terrible' and farming as 'very, very difficult'.

Wiltshire councillors now want the county to become a 'leading rural authority' in protecting farming against drought and other climate pressures. If approved, the motion would ask the Cabinet to produce a Wiltshire Rural Drought Resilience Action Plan within six months.

The plan would investigate threats to farm businesses, food production, rural jobs, water resources and wildfire preparedness. It would also examine measures to improve water efficiency and storage, soil health, habitat management and farm diversification.

The new partnership would bring together the NFU, Environment Agency, water companies, fire service, councils, environmental groups and education and skills providers.

How it is being reported

• Call to protect Wiltshire farm as Jeremy Clarkson warns of ‘terrible’ yearWiltshire could draw up a major plan to protect its farmers.Gazette & Herald · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Call to protect Wiltshire farm as Jeremy Clarkson warns of ‘terrible’ yearWiltshire could draw up a major plan to protect its farmers.Swindon Advertiser · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Call to protect Wiltshire farm as Jeremy Clarkson warns of ‘terrible’ yearWiltshire could draw up a major plan to protect its farmers.Wiltshire Times · 15 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Jeremy Clarkson · Nabil Najjar · Richard Clewer · Diddly Squat Farm · Oxfordshire · Wiltshire · NFU

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem