Fears drought and high gas prices could cause UK food shortages this winter

theguardian.com:

There is a risk of food shortages in the UK this winter, experts have said, as the drought and high gas prices put pressure on farmers.

While growers who use glasshouses are either not sowing or waiting until spring when there are more daylight hours, the crops that would usually have sustained the country during fallow periods, such as cabbages, carrots and potatoes, are likely to have reduced yields because of the drought, the Guardian understands.

Although there has been rainfall across the UK recently, which at times has been heavy, this has not been enough to replenish river, reservoir and groundwater levels, which dwindled during the record dry period. Farmers were hoping for weeks of consistent rain to make the soil softer for drilling crops, but this has not happened.

Things are not likely to improve during the crucial sowing periods in September, according to forecasts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Almost all river flows, except for some in the north-west, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are forecast to be at low or exceptionally low levels for the month, and the long-range forecast does not suggest it will be the very wet month that is needed for crops.

“The fruit and veg sector is undoubtedly in crisis,” said Rob Percival, the head of food policy at the Soil Association. “Many growers have suffered a 20% reduction in the production of crops this year and most growers are anticipating further reductions in the year ahead. Without immediate and concerted action from government, we can expect to see growing business going bust and shortages on supermarket shelves.”

Charities have called for more support for growers. Ben Reynolds, the deputy chief executive of Sustain, said: “Growers are facing an