Severe drought slashes EU and UK grain forecasts, hitting maize hardest
A new analysis shows that summer heat and drought have forced the EU and the UK to sharply lower their grain harvest forecasts, with maize production taking the biggest hit.
An analysis by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit of Coceral’s June and September grain forecasts reveals that the EU and the United Kingdom have substantially reduced their expected harvests after a summer of extreme heat and drought. France experienced the steepest decline, largely driven by a collapse in its maize crop, and Hungary also faced a sharp cut to both maize and wheat outputs. The United Kingdom’s wheat yield forecast was lowered considerably, prompting concerns among British farmers about planting next season.
While several countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltic states posted slight improvements that mitigated part of the overall loss, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre predicts maize yields to be well under the 2021-2025 average. The feed sector association Fefac warned that the bloc will need millions of tonnes of extra imported maize, and the drought has also strained fodder production and livestock numbers.
Why it matters
Reduced grain supplies threaten food prices, farm incomes and feed availability across Europe.
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