British farmers warn the next 10 days are crucial for harvests as an unprecedented heatwave and record-low rainfall threaten food supplies later this year. The UK has recorded only about 3% of its normal July rainfall in 2026, with the south and east receiving no rain this month, pushing crop yields toward crisis and forcing farmers to reduce irrigation in places like East Anglia. The National Farmers Union says the coming week could determine whether shortages emerge, and calls for flexibility over water abstraction to support farming. The National Drought Group has declared prolonged dry weather across eight regions, with river levels at roughly 13% of expected norms, and millions face hosepipe bans as demand spikes. Experts warn this could drive higher imports and pass on costs to British consumers while supermarkets brace for potential shortages in the autumn and winter. The situation is framed as a repeat of extreme weather in 2024 and 2025, underscoring ongoing vulnerabilities in the food supply chain.