Drought alarm in the Indre: Farmers fight for survival!

Drought alarm in the Indre: Farmers fight for survival!

The current extreme weather conditions are causing great concern for northern German farmers. Due to the ongoing drought, many in the region, including cattle farmers, are suffering greatly from the consequences. The heat has decimated the ground-covered vegetation to such an extent that the animals cannot be fed adequately. Arnaud Morin, a farmer from Vendœuvres, reports almost barren pastures where he supplies his 140 cows with bales of hay, although this usually only happens after the harvest. He still has 200 tons of feed reserves from last year, but is worried that they won't be enough for the winter. Maxime Pion, vice president of the Chamber of Agriculture in Indre, shares these concerns and highlights the uncertainty about the duration of the winter.

Rainfall in the region has fallen massively since mid-June - only 40 millimeters of rain fell in the last four months. This situation is also noticeable in milk production, as the heat leads to a reduced appetite and reduced food intake in the animals. The production of goat's milk also remains problematic, even if a cool place to retreat to is provided. Of particular concern are the crops that have not yet been harvested, including the essential fodder corn for the animals' winter nutrition.

Climate change and its consequences

The current drought is the most severe in 70 years, as experts such as Christian Huyghe from Inrae have noted. The economic impact of the drought should not be underestimated either, as the price of milk in France continues to rise due to these circumstances. Directors like Benoît Rouyer from Cniel warn of an impending milk shortage that could affect the entire value chain from butter to cream to cheese. The past few months have been marked by record-breaking temperatures and a series of heatwaves that brought grass production down 21% compared to normal through July 20. Producers are faced with a choice: they either have to nibble on their feed supplies for the winter, buy expensive livestock feed or even sell off some of their livestock.

Animal feed prices have increased by over 25% compared to last year, putting an additional burden on farmers. Price increases for dairy products are being observed in food markets as manufacturers try to absorb the increased costs. The average pricing scheme shows that the price of milk rose to 427 euros per 1,000 liters in May 2022, while the producer price varies across Europe: Germany is around 480 euros per ton, and in Belgium it reaches up to 500 euros.

Adaptation measures

Given these challenges, the need for adaptation in agriculture is urgent. Extreme weather situations like this have become more common in recent years, not only in Germany but also in Europe. Studies show that emissions from the agricultural sector not only pollute the climate, but also endanger the economic stability of agricultural businesses. Adaptation to climatic changes is particularly crucial in order to operate productively and sustainably in the long term. Competitive advantages can only be expected if innovative irrigation methods or alternative feeding strategies find their way into companies.

The concern about the harvest and the situation in the dairy sector is enormous and now requires comprehensive solutions. Time is of the essence and farmers are hoping for early rainfall to prevent the impending feed shortage. Otherwise, the drought could not only trigger a local crisis, but also have far-reaching consequences for food prices and security of supply in Europe.

For more information on the current challenges and solutions in agriculture, we recommend taking a look at the detailed reports from France Bleu, Future Sciences and the Federal Agency for Civic Education.