‘The grass to feed my cows just hasn’t grown’

A lack of grass caused by dry weather could leave one farmer facing an extra monthly bill of almost £1,000 for animal feed.

The UK had its driest spring in 50 years in 2025, according to the Met Office. For some farmers, such as strawberry growers, the conditions have led to bumper yields – but other crops are struggling.

For livestock farmers like Helen Griffiths in Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, it means having to spend more to supplement her livestock’s food.

“The grass growth generally keeps up with the cattle grazing until mid to late-July,” she said. “This year, once they’d eaten off the grass that was there, that was it – the grass just hasn’t grown.”

Mrs Griffiths said the lack of rain means the grass her cows and sheep would normally graze on at this time of year is not enough to sustain them.

As a result, she has had to dip into her stock of forage – hay and haylage – which would normally be saved for winter, and may have to buy in additional supplies.

“I was quoted £30 per round hay bale delivered to the farm, which is quite high compared to previous years,” she said.

“That’s nearly £1,000 a month extra just feeding them because the grass isn’t growing.”

Mrs Griffiths said the lack of rain has also impacted straw harvests for winter bedding, as grains have not grown as high as hoped.

She added one of her fields which “typically floods” in winter only flooded “a little” in the past year, which she believes also impacted the grass.

“The weather seems to be increasingly extreme on different ends of the scale and as farmers that’s something we have to battle on the frontline for,” Mrs Griffiths said.

She said she is unsure what the implication may be for consumers.

“We don’t necessarily dictate the prices,” she explained. “It’s very much down to big supermarkets and the big buyers.”

Meanwhile, Paul Keene said the sunshine has been “positive” for his strawberries, as it helps them “swell”.

“It really drives the flavour and we get the best crop ever,” he said.

“When the strawberries are ready and it’s a sunny day, we’ll be full of customers eager to pick.”

But Mr Keene said his recently-planted pumpkins are “desperate for water”.

“We have just irrigated them furiously and a drop of rain would be most welcome,” he said.

“We’ve got a reservoir full of water that will keep us going. As long as it gets filled up in winter, we’re happy,” he added.