Europe Farmers Face Crop Collapse From Heatwaves
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- European farmers are enduring an 'unprecedented' crisis due to consecutive heatwaves and continent-wide drought, with vegetable and grain growers warning of catastrophic harvests.
- French vegetable producers, including Prince de Bretagne representing over 1,300 growers, report yield declines of 25% for courgettes, 35% for lettuces, 60% for broccoli, and up to 100% for artichokes.
- France’s agriculture ministry estimates the maize harvest will fall 35% to about 9 million tonnes—the lowest level since 1980—due to extreme heat during critical growth stages.
- Agreste, France’s agricultural statistics service, reports hay production is down about 30% compared to the 1989–2018 average, worsening feed shortages for winter livestock.
- Coldiretti, Italy’s largest farmers’ organization, states 60% of Italian farmland faces drought, cutting corn, rice, and soya yields and reducing milk output by 20%, costing the sector over €3 billion.
- Spain’s regional authorities report cereal harvests down 35% in Castilla y León, 49% in Madrid, and 24% in Andalucía, while sheep and goat milk production has also declined significantly.
- French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu has pledged €145 million in immediate aid to farmers, with additional structural support planned in the 2027 budget.
Why it matters: With staple crop yields collapsing across Europe and winter feed supplies dwindling, livestock producers face rising costs and reduced output. The €3bn loss in Italy alone and France’s maize harvest hitting a 45-year low signal systemic strain on food supply chains and rural economies.
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