European Farmers Face Unprecedented Crisis Amid Successive Heatwaves

Europe's farmers are facing an unprecedented crisis due to successive intense heatwaves and a severe drought, with vegetable and grain growers warning of catastrophic harvests.

The Guardian environment desk 18 August 2026 Source: The Guardian environment desk

Europe's farmers are facing an unprecedented crisis due to successive intense heatwaves and a severe drought. The situation has left many farmers in a state of desperation, with vegetable and grain growers warning of catastrophic harvests.

The crisis is particularly acute in France, where French vegetable production is down by a "very significant extent" compared with previous years. Shortfalls in specific crops include 25% for courgettes, 35% for lettuces, 40% for peas, 60% for broccoli, and 50% to 100% for artichokes.

The French growers' association, Prince de Bretagne, has called for "urgent action" to address the dramatic fall in yields and the quality of many crops. The association groups together more than 1,300 vegetable producers in Brittany.

The heatwaves and drought have been caused by accelerated, human-caused global heating and a supersized El Niño. Temperatures have routinely exceeded 30C and often 35C, with almost no rainfall and hot winds. This has prevented plant development and led to a dramatic fall in yields.

Cereal production has also been hard hit, with the French agriculture ministry estimating the maize harvest in France will be down by 35% on 2025 levels at about 9m tonnes, a quantity last seen in 1980. Part of the fall is due to farmers switching to other crops, such as sunflowers, but it also reflects the impact of this summer's vicious heatwaves.

The impact of the heatwaves is likely to cause big problems for livestock farmers. With dairy cows typically starting to suffer from heat stress above 25C, many producers have already reported milk yields down by 10%-15%. Most are now also concerned about winter feed.

Egg production has also been hit by a catastrophic mortality rate in poultry houses, particularly during the June heatwave. According to France's national egg promotion board, output has fallen by about 1m eggs a day.

In Italy, about 60% of farmland across the country is now affected by drought ranging from mild to severe. Crop yields, especially for corn, rice, and soya beans as well as vegetables and fruit, have been badly hit, and milk production has fallen by 20%. The overall cost to the sector, including damage caused by wildfires and heavy storms, is put at more than €3bn.

The drought is particularly acute in the Po valley, a huge geographical area straddling four northern regions, the backbone of Italian agriculture and home to about 80% of the Italian rice production. Italy is Europe's largest rice producer, with about 235,000 hectares (580,000 acres) planted in 2025.

In Spain, cereal harvests are 35% below the previous year in Castilla y León, 49% in the Madrid region, and 24% in Andalucía. Sheep and goat's milk production is also down 6.5% and 10.8% respectively.

Governments have pledged costly aid packages to help the sector. The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has promised €145m (£124) in immediate aid, along with "structural support and investment measures" in the 2027 budget.

## Aid Packages for European Farmers

## Crop Yields and Production

| Crop | Shortfall | | --- | --- | | Courgettes | 25% | | Lettuces | 35% | | Peas | 40% | | Broccoli | 60% | | Artichokes | 50% to 100% |

## Regional Impacts

In Italy, about 60% of farmland across the country is now affected by drought ranging from mild to severe. In Spain, cereal harvests are 35% below the previous year in Castilla y León, 49% in the Madrid region, and 24% in Andalucía.