A farming support organisation based in Botley has introduced emergency funding to assist families in Oxfordshire experiencing financial difficulties caused by drought conditions.
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which operates under the Farmers Charity banner, has allocated £2 million toward emergency grants as part of its response to extended periods of dry weather and below-average rainfall during spring, conditions that have severely affected agricultural operations throughout the county.
The financial assistance is specifically intended to cover domestic and personal expenditure rather than agricultural or commercial expenses.
The programme targets farming households that are encountering monetary strain as a consequence of drought-related pressures.
Alicia Chivers, the chief executive of the organisation, explained that the prolonged lack of rainfall has created considerable hardship for farming families across England and Wales, with numerous individuals experiencing heightened financial burdens as the drought persists.
She expressed pride in the charity’s capacity to deliver swift assistance when the agricultural sector faces difficulties of this magnitude.
Through this substantial financial commitment, the emergency drought funding would deliver direct monetary support to help farming people meet essential household expenses during a period of elevated stress and financial difficulty.
The ability to respond at such a scale represents a significant element of the organisation’s work as the Farmers Charity.
She urged qualifying farming individuals to submit applications when the scheme becomes available in their region and to bear in mind that the charity’s broader range of services remains accessible to the farming community at any time.
Owners and tenants of agricultural holdings whose primary farming enterprise is located within an area formally classified as experiencing drought conditions may apply for the £2,000 payment, which is designed to assist with personal and household expenditure.
The money cannot be allocated toward agricultural or business operational costs.
The initiative is being implemented across five geographical stages, with each area receiving up to £400,000 in available funding.
The South East stage, encompassing Oxfordshire, will begin accepting submissions at midday on Monday, September 21, with a deadline of 3pm on Friday, September 25, or sooner should the allocated funds be fully distributed.
The programme forms part of a wider effort to address the economic difficulties confronting the farming sector following what meteorologists recorded as one of the driest and warmest spring seasons on record.
During spring 2026, England experienced rainfall totalling just 65 per cent of the seasonal average, resulting in earlier harvesting periods, reduced crop outputs and limitations on irrigation.
These circumstances have placed additional pressure on farmers’ personal financial situations.
The emergency drought grant seeks to alleviate these difficulties by offering prompt assistance for vital living expenses.
Successful applicants will receive a single payment of £2,000.
According to a representative for the organisation, the funding aims to reduce immediate personal and household monetary strain rather than offset business losses or additional expenses arising from agricultural operations during drought conditions.
The charity’s telephone support service operates around the clock throughout the entire year and can be contacted on 0800 188 4444.
Comprehensive details regarding the emergency drought grant, including full eligibility requirements, are accessible at rabi.org.uk/drought-support.