French Maize Farmers Face Crisis Amid Heatwaves

Farmers in southwest France, such as Sébastien Maylin, are struggling with significant crop damage due to successive heatwaves and severe drought conditions. Maylin reports stunted maize cobs and anticipates a sharp decline in yields, potentially failing to cover the costs of fertiliser and seeds.

French maize production is projected to decrease by at least 35% from 2025 levels, with independent analysts warning that non-irrigated fields could see even greater losses, possibly dropping the overall harvest to below seven million metric tons, the lowest in decades. The heatwaves, which began earlier in the growing season compared to the historic 2003 heatwave, have caused temperatures to exceed 35°C during critical flowering stages, severely affecting crop health.

France's overall agricultural production is expected to decline by 8% this year, with livestock fodder growth already a third below normal. The finance ministry estimates the economic impact could reduce growth by 0.1%, with Environment Minister Monique Barbut estimating costs between €10 billion and €15 billion.

The European Commission has also lowered its forecast for the EU maize harvest to 51.9 million metric tons, the lowest since 2007.