Stories

Thu, 06 Aug 2026

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 Winemakers prosper but veg farms wilt in the drought

Growers in the West of England search for new crops to grow in a changing climate.

* Winemakers in Somerset are enjoying a bumper harvest due to the dry weather, with grapes ripening earlier and more sugar being produced.
* English wine production is up 55% from last year, and producers are now able to make a wider range of wine styles, including still reds.
* Vineyards love the warm, dry days, but vegetable farmers are struggling, with crops like cauliflowers and potatoes shriveling in the heat.
* Phil Collins, a Wiltshire farmer, has never had an overdraft before, but six weeks without rain have left him struggling to make ends meet.
* Climate scientists warn that hot dry summers will become more frequent due to climate change, and farmers are trying to adapt by changing what they grow.
* Some crops, like pumpkins, may do better in the warmer weather, but others, like cauliflowers and potatoes, are suffering.