--- title: "Scottish dairy sends milk south amid UK drought" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought" category: "Climate" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-09-21T06:46:01.384Z" source_reported: "2026-09-21T06:00:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-21T06:46:01.384Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-21T07:45:08.111580+00:00" --- # Scottish dairy sends milk south amid UK drought *Record heatwaves and drought in England and Wales have led to increased demand for Scottish milk supplies.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and two digests cite the 56,000 litres of milk sent south, with figures corroborated. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates facts from comment and provides specific figures and dates. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, avoiding sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The UK recorded its hottest summer in 2026, with five major heatwaves and widespread drought declarations. - Mossgiel Organic Dairy sent approximately 56,000 litres of organic milk to England and Wales due to supply issues caused by the drought. - UK daily milk collections are running 3.7% lower than the same week last year, with producers in England and Wales facing severe pressure. - Bryce Cunningham, founder of Mossgiel Organic Dairy, reported a surge in demand from businesses in England and Wales and warned of climate change impacts. Scotland's farmers are being called upon to help address food supply shortages in England and Wales, which have been severely impacted by extreme heat and drought. An Ayrshire-based organic dairy producer has seen a significant increase in demand from businesses south of the border. Bryce Cunningham, founder of Mossgiel Organic Dairy, stated that the drought has created serious supply issues across the dairy industry, amplifying existing difficulties in obtaining organic milk at this time of year. He reported receiving multiple urgent requests from businesses seeking milk supplies. As of 11 September, Mossgiel Organic Dairy had dispatched around 56,000 litres of organic milk to England and Wales. The company was also asked to supply an additional 40,000 litres but lacked the capacity to do so. Across the UK, daily milk collections are approximately 1.24 million litres, or 3.7%, lower than in the same week last year, according to figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. While Mossgiel Organic Dairy has experienced some heat stress among its cows, Scottish producers have generally avoided the most severe weather impacts. However, Mr Cunningham expressed concern that climate change could lead to more frequent and disruptive events, questioning if this is the new normal for agriculture. ## Disagreement on drought impact The Glasgow Times and The Herald Scotland reported that Scottish producers have largely avoided the worst effects of the weather this year. The Independent (US) and perspectivemedia.com stated that food and milk producers in England and Wales have come under increasing pressure from extreme heat and drought, and Scottish producers have said they are looking north to fill in the gaps. The Evening Standard reported that England and Wales are looking to Scotland as drought puts pressure on milk supplies. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mention the specific figure of 56,000 litres of organic milk sent south by Mossgiel Organic Dairy, nor do they state that the company was asked to supply an additional 40,000 litres but did not have the capacity. The reports also do not mention the figure of 1.24 million litres (3.7%) lower UK daily milk collections than the same week last year, which was attributed to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 33% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-21T07:45:08.111580+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-21T08:30:10.271Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports from The Herald Scotland, The Independent, The Independent (US), and perspectivemedia.com focused on the drought's impact on food and milk producers in England and Wales. They highlighted the increased demand for Scottish milk and quoted Bryce Cunningham's concerns about climate change and the potential for such extreme weather events to become the norm. The Herald Scotland also noted that Scottish producers have largely avoided the worst effects of the weather this year, while The Independent and The Independent (US) specifically mentioned the warning of a milk shortage due to the strain on supply. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from the Glasgow Times and the Evening Standard led with Scotland stepping in to help fill supply gaps in England and Wales due to drought and record heat. Both outlets highlighted Mossgiel Organic Dairy's role in sending milk south and quoted Bryce Cunningham on the surge in demand and the impact of the weather. The Glasgow Times also included comments from Angus Morrison of Lost Orchards on the impact of climate change on fruit production. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Stv](https://news.stv.tv/scotland/england-and-wales-look-to-scotland-as-drought-puts-pressure-on-milk-supplies) — England and Wales look to Scotland as drought puts pressure on milk supplies - [Glasgow Times](https://glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/26565455.scottish-farmers-urged-help-fill-england-wales-dairy-supply-gap) — Scotland steps in as drought and record heat spark food supply fears - [The Herald Scotland](https://heraldscotland.com/news/26565827.scottish-milk-sent-south-drought-hits-english-farms) — Scottish dairy sends 56,000 litres of milk south to England amid drought shortages - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/milk-shortage-england-wales-drought-b3053130.html) — Milk shortage warning as drought puts major strain on supply - [Evening Standard](https://standard.co.uk/news/environment/wales-scotland-england-food-ayrshire-b1297713.html) — England and Wales look to Scotland as drought puts pressure on milk supplies - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/milk-shortage-england-wales-drought-b3053130.html) — Milk shortage warning as drought puts major strain on supply - [perspectivemedia.com](https://perspectivemedia.com/england-and-wales-look-to-scotland-as-drought-puts-pressure-on-milk-supplies) — England and Wales look to Scotland as drought puts pressure on milk supplies ## Questions **What caused the milk supply issues in England and Wales?** The UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, with five major heatwaves and widespread drought declarations. This extreme weather led to poor grazing conditions, stunted harvests, and heat stress on livestock, severely impacting food and milk production in England and Wales. **How much milk did Mossgiel Organic Dairy send to England and Wales?** Mossgiel Organic Dairy sent approximately 56,000 litres of organic milk south to England and Wales. The company was also asked to supply an additional 40,000 litres but did not have the capacity to fulfil the request. **How are UK milk collections affected by the drought?** UK daily milk collections are running around 1.24 million litres, or 3.7%, lower than the same week last year. This reduction is attributed to the impacts of heat stress and drought on producers across the country. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Scottish dairy sends milk south amid UK drought", https://mediabias.news/climate/scottish-dairy-sends-milk-south-amid-uk-drought