Tom Everall, 27 — known as “Tom the Young Farmer” on BBC Radio 1 — says this summer’s heatwaves and drought have forced unusually early wheat harvests and left grain shrivelled, cutting yields and quality. He warns rising costs for diesel and fertiliser, linked to geopolitical tensions, and a fall in milk payments (from about 45p to 31p per litre) are squeezing farm finances. Combined with long hours and operational stress, these pressures are worsening farmers’ mental health and making peer support essential.
Radio 1’s 'Tom the Young Farmer' Says Heatwaves Are Deepening Farmers’ Mental-Health Strain
The quality of this year's harvest was "way down", Everall said [BBC]
On another scorching summer day in Myddle, Shropshire, 27-year-old Tom Everall — better known to BBC Radio 1 listeners as “Tom the Young Farmer” — says this season’s extreme heat and dry conditions have made farming harder than ever and are taking a clear toll on mental health.
“You really have to work out with your own head why you’re doing it,” Everall admits as we speak in his tractor. Once famed for prank calls on Greg James’ breakfast show, he is now focused on the reality of his family’s fields and the pressures facing modern farmers.
Early Harvests, Shrivelled Grain
Everall explains that the farm has had no significant rain since May and that crops have ripened unusually early as a result. Where wheat would normally be harvested in late summer, his family has already gathered their crop — an event he describes as "unheard of" before August.
Everall said weather was having a huge impact on farming [BBC]
“The dry weather has caused all the crops to ripen so early, and all the grains have just shrivelled up to nothing. The quality is way down, the yields are down... we’re lucky that we’re not just relying on that.”
Costs, Prices And Pressure
The heat and drought are compounding financial pressures. Everall points to rising diesel and fertiliser costs — which he links to recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East — alongside a drop in the price paid for milk: from around 45p per litre last year to roughly 31p this year. Those narrower margins, long working hours and day-to-day operational stress are creating a heavy mental burden.
Mental Health And Community
“It’s easy for your head to spiral,” Everall says. Despite a deep love for the lifestyle — “I love it and because it is, and it can be, an incredible way of life — we’re very lucky” — he stresses how important it is for farmers to stay connected and to check in with one another during tough seasons.
If you are a farmer or know someone struggling, local farming networks and national mental-health charities can offer practical and emotional support. Everall’s message is simple: keep talking, and keep an eye on your mates.
Reporting from Myddle, Shropshire.
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