We might as well not bother growing things, says Merseyside farmer

“We might as well not bother growing things and leave the farms empty.”

That is the bleak position facing arable farmer Olly Harrison following three heatwaves already this year.

Some of his colleagues fear increasingly extreme weather, including prolonged dry spells and flooding, is forcing them to seriously question whether their industry is sustainable.

After a dry spring, the north-west of England continues to have extremely low rainfall.

Harrison, from Tarbock, near Prescot on Merseyside, told the BBC the recent hot weather had reduced his crop yield.

“We have up to a half less to sell and we have to process it in the yard to make it sellable, like wetting them up and increasing the quality,” he explained.

These additional processes all cost time and money – reducing profit margins.

Harrison continued: “Last year it was really dry, 2024 was ridiculously wet, there’s no clear pattern other than extremes.

“I said I couldn’t afford another year like this, so I have a lot of diversifications of the farm.”

He now has 14 different income streams including dog walking fields, offices and recycling tree waste.

His YouTube channel revenue Olly Blogs Agricontract has also helped him to afford farming equipment.

Harrison said: “Unless you’re a large farm with no borrowing and have cash reserves, there’s no future for a farm without diversification, especially in the North West, we just don’t have the climate.”

To make matters worse, in the latest heatwave Harrison’s fields have also been targeted by arsonists.