Farming during a heatwave

With many YFC members involved in their family farms or working in farming businesses, NFYFC has provided links to further information about managing the hot weather and its impact on livestock, crops and those working on the farm.

Personal protection

Shift strenuous physical tasks, vaccinations, and field operations to early mornings or late evenings.
Provide easily accessible, cool drinking water and consider electrolyte replacements.
Wear loose, light-coloured long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats. Take frequent breaks in shaded areas or air-conditioned cabs.
Always apply sunscreen. Hot sunny days can create serious health risks without precautions – more than three-quarters of UK farmers get sunburnt every year despite the threat of skin cancer. See more information from Melanoma Focus.

Protecting crops

The NFU has issued the following guidance regarding crop protection during hot weather.

Crop fires and hot weather: The importance of staying vigilant about risk of fire during harvest and How to help the fire service access on-farm water supplies

AHDB has shared information for mitigating risks of climate change for arable farmers.

Protecting poultry

Protecting livestock

Heatwaves can increase the threat of prolonged and intense heat stress.

AHDB have shared practical steps to reduce heat stress.

During peak conditions, there are several immediate actions farmers can take to mitigate the effects of heat stress:

Ensure water availability: Provide constant access to clean, cool water as intake can rise significantly in hot weather
Provide shade: Use natural shelter such as trees and hedges or allow access to housing to reduce heat load
Adjust handling: Move and handle livestock during the early morning or late evening, avoiding the hottest parts of the day
Support feeding patterns: Feed later in the day to reduce heat stress associated with digestion and offset reduced daytime intake
Reduce pressure on animals: Avoid overcrowding in pens or holding areas and minimise walking distances
Improve ventilation and cooling: Increase airflow in buildings and, where possible, use water or sprinklers to cool cattle and pigs
Monitor closely: Watch for early signs of stress and prioritise vulnerable animals such as lambs, calves and those already unwell
These measures can make a significant difference in limiting the worst impacts during extreme heat.

Manage the challenges and impact of hot weather, heat extremes and heatwaves using the resources from the AHDB website.