The abnormal heat has led to a crisis in France's agriculture sector. Dairy production is particularly affected, with losses in the industry expected to range from 20% to 30%. This was reported on July 16 by France Info, citing preliminary estimates from the French National Federation of Agricultural Workers' Unions (FNSEA).
“The mood on French farms is at its lowest level. <…> This is a real disaster for French economies,” stated FNSEA President Arnaud Rousseau, commenting on the prolonged drought, heat, and major forest fires affecting the entire country.
Noting that all sectors of agriculture are facing a crisis, Rousseau also pointed out ongoing economic issues. According to him, since the beginning of the year, fertilizer prices have risen by about 30%, while agricultural product prices remain at record low levels.
In response to the situation, the French government has announced a support package of approximately 150 million euros, which will begin to be distributed on August 1. Farmer representatives have also called on authorities to engage in closer dialogue regarding support measures for the sector.
According to data from the European Mortality Monitoring System as of July 13, at least 10,000 people have died in Europe due to extreme heat that struck the western part of the continent at the end of June. The data was collected from national mortality statistics of 27 European countries for the week of June 22 to 28, when the heat reached its peak in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Gas Infrastructure Europe data from July 14 indicates that France sharply increased its gas consumption from storage at the beginning of July against the backdrop of the abnormal heat. The volumes of reserves used by France are significantly higher than those of other European countries also facing prolonged heat.
