MORE than half of farmers in the west interviewed by Farming Futures say they are already affected by climate change.

The survey results also found that over 70 per cent of local farmers expect to be affected by climate change in the next 10 years.

More than 30 per cent of local farmers are already taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change and 40 per cent are acting to mitigate climate change.

Although 44 per cent of farmers see it as a risk, one fifth of those interviewed felt climate change was a business opportunity for farmers in the South West, particularly in the form of new crops and increased tourism.

More survey results are available on the new Farming Futures website - www.farmingfutures.org.uk - which will help farmers, land managers and their advisors with practical ideas to make their businesses more resilient to the impacts of climate change.