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UK PM Burnham announces more funding for drought-hit farmers
The package adds £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and £15 million for reservoirs to help farms cope with drought and water shortages.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a £65 million support package for farmers during a South West visit, addressing the country's third drought in five years.
Large areas experienced heatwaves and little rainfall throughout a record-dry July, forcing farmers to harvest early and suffer lower yields that strained food producers.
The package includes £50 million extra for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, raising its total budget to £290 million, plus £15 million for on-farm reservoirs and eased environmental licensing.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said farmers face "some of the toughest conditions in decades," while Burnham emphasized that domestic food production is treated as national security.
Officials plan to support nine new reservoirs and invest nearly £100 million in wildfire and extreme weather responses, with updated planning guidance arriving Monday.