Story perspectives

Extreme Heat Cuts UK Milk Deliveries by 240 Million Litres

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 3:47 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UK dairy farmers lost over £83 million of milk because of extreme summer heat.
The ECIU said milk deliveries fell by 240 million litres from May to August.
Heat-stressed livestock and poor grazing forced English and Welsh farms to house cows indoors, raising labor and feed costs.
Tom Cantillon, senior analyst at the ECIU, warned future heat shocks will be harder to recover from.

History

Historical Context

In the summer of 1976 a prolonged heatwave and drought forced the British government to ration water and saw £500 million of crops fail, establishing a benchmark for extreme heat. In 2024, heat-stressed dairy cows in England and Wales forced indoor housing, costing producers a significant £83 million, echoing the 1976 crisis.

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Story summary

UK dairy farmers lost over £83 million of milk because of extreme summer heat.
The ECIU said milk deliveries fell by 240 million litres from May to August.
Heat-stressed livestock and poor grazing forced English and Welsh farms to house cows indoors, raising labor and feed costs.
Tom Cantillon, senior analyst at the ECIU, warned future heat shocks will be harder to recover from.

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