Scorched Earth: Why This Summer Could Threaten the Future of British Farming
Jul 09, 2025
Charlie talks to punchline-Gloucester.com about the future of farming
As the sun blazes over the Cotswolds this summer, the golden glow across the fields hides a much darker truth: Britain’s farmers are in trouble.
At Cotswold Gold, we’re proud to farm, produce and bottle every drop of our cold-pressed rapeseed oil right here in the Cotswolds. But this year, the challenges are stacking up from scorching 35-degree days and shrinking harvests, to changes in farming policy.
Charlie Beldam spoke to Simon from Punchline-Gloucester.com sounding the alarm: “Much of our crop this year has been a write-off.”
The article focuses on all the factors severely affecting farmers at the moment such as; climate change, the Goverment's new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and pests such as the flea beetle which are all impacting on crops and soil health.
“It might look like a beautiful summer,” Charlie says, “but what we’re actually facing is scorched earth.”
In this article it talks through how Charlie’s experience is not unique and all these factors are adding even more pressure on farmers when things were already though.
