Farmers down 240 million litres of milk after heat
Summary
This summer's extreme heat caused dairy farmers in England and Wales to produce 240 million litres less milk than expected. The hot weather harmed grass growth and stressed cows, making farmers feed their cattle winter food earlier, which added costs and reduced milk output.Key Facts
- Dairy farmers delivered milk for four fewer days than usual between May and August.
- The lost milk production is worth over £83 million, enough to fill more than one billion school milk cartons.
- The UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026 with five strong heatwaves and droughts.
- Some farmers had built up extra milk earlier in the year, which helped keep total milk production near record levels for 2026.
- Milk production benefits from larger farms with better machines, even if herd size drops.
- Heat stress makes cows produce less milk, and milk cannot be stored for long, making losses hard to fix.
- Farmers are using winter feed earlier due to poor grass growth, which increases their costs.
- Experts say farmers need more shade, trees, and water to protect their animals from future extreme heat.
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