UK Not Making Hay While The Sun Shines - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights a significant reduction in hay yields across parts of the UK due to one of the hottest and driest summers on record. In eastern regions, hay and straw production has dropped by as much as 50 percent, while western areas have seen record yields thanks to favorable rainfall. This shortage has driven up prices, with quality hay in England now costing around £200 per tonne delivered. Farmers have had to rely on winter stores and imported hay, including from France, despite logistical challenges and increased costs post-Brexit. Industry experts, such as Andrew Mansbridge of the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association, emphasize that the dry conditions have severely impacted straw and hay supplies, with some fields producing only brown stalks by mid-summer. The shortage is nationwide, forcing merchants like Olly Morris to seek alternative suppliers and deal with the high costs of transporting hay from Scotland and Wales. The situation serves as a potential "canary in the coal mine," signaling broader agricultural vulnerabilities