It's been tough harvest season, say Sussex farmers

Farmer Richard Brown said it has been a tough harvest season this year

Farmers in East Sussex say it has been a “tough” harvest season due to heavy rainfall and not enough sunshine.

Arable crops such as milling wheat struggled with the wet weather, they said.

Richard Brown, who farms in the Cuckmere Valley, said: “It has been a tough year for everybody and everything. It has been a tough time for the people and the animals."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it will restore trust and stability in the sector, boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security.

It comes after analysis of government data earlier this month revealed that England was heading for one of its worst harvests on record.

Mr Brown added: “All those crops needed more sunshine and warmth in the early summer. The winter wheat has been really poor.

“Sheep don’t like being wet all the time. They did not thrive in the winter or spring. One group of lambs that we weighed in December and then at the end of March had not put on a single gram of weight.”

Earlier this month, analysis from The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit predicted that this year’s harvest was set to be among the worst three since detailed records began in 1983, just behind 2020 and 2001.

Farmers spoke about the tough harvest at a recent ploughing competition near Alfriston

Will Hecks, who farms between Firle and Alfriston, said the harvest had been “average” but some crops including milling wheat struggled due to a lack of sunlight.

A Defra spokesperson said: "Food security is national security, and we know confidence amongst farmers is at a record low.

"The Government will restore trust and stability in the sector by introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth, strengthen food security and improve the environment."