The funding, drawn from within Defra’s existing farming budget, includes £50m added to this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) - bringing its total budget to £290m - and up to £15m allocated for on-farm reservoirs.

It is part of the wider government response following persistent heatwaves and the UK’s driest July on record.

Arable farmers have reported some of their worst cereal harvests in decades, with more than 1,500 irrigation restrictions enforced in East Anglia, while livestock farmers have already been forced to use winter food stores.

The new package pledges "more flexibility in environmental schemes", so farmers affected by drought can continue to receive payments and take practical steps to protect livestock, crops and land.

And farmers were........

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