United Kingdom farmers have been shocked by the extremely dry weather that has had a significant effect on their crops, as reported by the BBC.

The poor crop yields in the U.K. have happened when the world market had an abundance of grain, so prices have dropped and are causing farmers to struggle.

"The prices are as low as they've been for about 10 years, so it's been a real struggle for arable farmers," said Patrick Lynn, whose family's farming roots in Nottinghamshire go back to 1930.

What's happening?

The weather in the U.K. has been extremely dry, and the National Farmers' Union has reported significantly lower crop yields. This spring was one of the driest in the country, and several regions have experienced extended periods of drought.

Lynn explained that the region has had less than half of the normal rainfall in an already dry region. The previous autumn, farmers had the opposite problem, and they lost their crops to widespread flooding caused by a large storm. 

Why is the situation for UK farmers important?

As our planet continues to overheat, the conditions are impacting crops and farmers who rely on them for their livelihoods as well as the global food supply. The situation in Nottinghamshire is not isolated. Similar weather-related events are affecting crops around the world.

It's not just farmers who are impacted. When crops are depleted, supply chains are disrupted. When supply does not meet demand, food prices go up. Ecosystems are also threatened.

Extreme weather events are increasing in severity and frequency, and our rapidly overheating planet, which has been exacerbated by human actions and inaction, has contributed to the problem. Whether it is flooding, drought conditions, hurricanes, or wildfires, these changes in weather are linked to the changes in our climate.

What's being done about the struggling farmers in the UK?

While some regions in the U.K. are thriving with better-than-expected crop yields, other farmlands are experiencing lower quality and yields. The changing weather conditions each season are unpredictable, so farmers are struggling in less-than-ideal conditions.

We can all make small changes to reduce our impact on the environment to limit extreme weather events that are linked to the changes in our climate.  

Lynn told the BBC that the situation has been "a bit of a shocker."

Global improvement will require individual adjustment.

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