On 14 August 2026, the UK government announced a package of support for farmers across England to help them manage prolonged dry weather. It included a £65 million funding boost, described as reprioritisation within Defra's farming budget. The announcement followed the driest July on record in England and Wales and a COBR meeting that week on extreme heat, wildfires and drought.

The package included an extra £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, taking that budget to £290 million, and up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs. It also offered more flexibility in environmental schemes so drought-affected farmers could keep payments while taking steps to protect livestock, crops and land, plus action to ease reservoir planning barriers and simpler water access arrangements. Further details were to be set out in an updated National Planning Policy Framework due the following Monday.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said farmers faced some of the toughest conditions in decades. The government said the dry weather was not expected to affect national food security and that the package applied to England only.