Heatwave reducing milk production, Nuneaton farmer says

A Warwickshire farmer says this summer’s hot weather has reduced milk production, creating further challenges for the farming industry.

Charles Goadby, who runs Manor Farm near Nuneaton, told the BBC Politics Midlands programme the recent heatwave had affected both his dairy herd and arable crops.

He said yields from cows that would normally produce about 40 litres of milk a day had fallen to 32 litres during the hottest weather.

Calling for government support, he said farmers were losing money while production faltered as they were unable to change milk’s market price. The government said it was backing dairy farmers and had worked to improve fairness across the supply chain.

Production had since recovered, Goadby said, to about 35 litres a day, but remained below normal levels.

“Farmers [are] paid on a set price,” he stated, “and we have no say in that. We’re price takers, not price makers, so we’re just we’re losing money.

“When we’re having drops in production, this heat is hitting us in the pocket hard.”