Written question asked by Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 7 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. It was answered by Stephen Morgan (Labour) on Friday, 18 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Beef: West Dorset

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of drought and bluetongue on the viability of beef farms in West Dorset.

Answer

The Government recognises how hard this summer has been for farmers, including with regard to drought and bluetongue.

As announced in August 2026, the Government is supporting farmers through a range of measures. These include temporary Environmental Land Management flexibilities and up to £15m in funding million for on-farm reservoirs.

Defra has announced an extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2, which opens later this month. This takes SFI26’s total budget to £290 million and helps more farmers access support.

The Environment Agency is prioritising short-term abstraction licence variations, and the Government is committed to continue working with the farming sector to improve resilience of on-farm water supply to ensure farmers can invest with confidence.

Defra continues to monitor the effects of the disease through surveillance, including information on fallen stock, and ongoing engagement with farmers, veterinary professionals and industry representatives. Defra is also monitoring impacts of dry conditions which vary by farm type, geography and access to water.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 27717
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Droughts Beef Bluetongue disease West Dorset
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Beef: West Dorset

Secondary information

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