European farmers face ‘unprecedented crisis’ after successive heatwaves

Europe’s farming sector is grappling with an “unprecedented” crisis as successive heatwaves and a worsening continent-wide drought devastate crops and livestock, with growers warning of severe shortfalls in key harvests.

Vegetable production in France has plummeted, with shortages reported across multiple crops. Courgettes are down 25%, lettuces 35%, peas 40%, broccoli 60%, and artichokes between 50% and 100% compared to previous years. The Prince de Bretagne, representing over 1,300 vegetable producers in Brittany, described the situation as a “historic crisis” and called for urgent government intervention to address falling yields and crop quality. The extreme conditions—marked by temperatures routinely exceeding 30°C and often reaching 35°C, coupled with near-zero rainfall and hot winds—have crippled plant development across the country.

Grain production has also suffered dramatically. France, Europe’s largest cereal producer, is expected to harvest around 9 million tonnes of maize this year, a 35% drop from 2025 levels and the lowest since 1980. While some farmers have shifted to alternative crops like sunflowers, the decline is largely attributed to the relentless heatwaves, which struck during critical growth phases. The shortfall is likely to have ripple effects, particularly for livestock farmers who rely on maize for feed.

Heat stress has already impacted dairy production, with milk yields falling by 10% to 15% as temperatures exceeded the 25°C threshold where cows begin to struggle. Winter feed supplies are also under threat, with hay production running about 30% below the 1989-2018 average, according to France’s agriculture ministry. The shortage is spreading across more regions, raising concerns about long-term feed availability.

Italy has not been spared, with roughly 60% of farmland affected by drought of varying severity. Coldiretti, the country’s largest farmers’ organization, reports significant losses in corn, rice, soya beans, vegetables, and fruit, alongside a 20% decline in milk production. The economic toll, including damage from wildfires and storms, is estimated at over €3 billion.