New support measures for farmers affected by drought

The government leans on the bedside farmers penalized by the exceptional weather. Repeated droughts and heatwaves have seriously affected certain crops. More than 90 French departments are still affected by measures restricting the use of water which affect farmers. And “unfortunately, nothing bodes well for a recoverynext, warns Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

The crops of cereals straw (durum wheat, soft wheat, barley) are expected to be globally stable. But it is quite different with corn, sunflower or grass production. To date, the maize crop is expected down 18% from its 2021 level. That of sunflower would be stable; but that’s only because French farmers have planted many more this year, spurred by the shortage created by the war in Ukraine. Grass production isvery loss-making (-21%), which…