La Jornada: France: heat waves and drought affect wine and corn production

Paris. French corn production deteriorated further this week, reaching its lowest level in more than 15 years, data from agricultural agency FranceAgriMer revealed, confirming fears that the prolonged period of heat and drought has damaged crops.

Corn has become the cereal crop most exposed to extreme weather conditions, as it is in a critical phase of its vegetative cycle in France, the largest cereal producer in the European Union.

The proportion of corn for grain rated in good or excellent condition fell to 47 percent last Monday, compared to 57 percent the previous week and 75 percent a year ago, FranceAgriMer’s weekly report showed. This is the lowest level recorded at least since 2011, the year for which the first comparable data is available on the FranceAgriMer website. The estimate could worsen with the arrival of another heat wave this week, which, according to weather forecasts, will last until early next week.

At the end of June, French farmers expected a 30 percent drop in corn production, reaching its lowest level this century, as damage caused by heat and drought combined with a sharp decline in planted area. Prospects of a weaker French harvest sent corn prices higher, with the benchmark November contract rising more than 11 percent in three weeks. The state of soft wheat and the barley crop also worsened last week.

Wine harvest declines

The scorching summer gripping France is slowing vine growth in wine regions such as Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, threatening a leaner harvest and could lead to one of the earliest harvests in history, producers said this week. A record heat wave in late June, followed by even hotter and drier weather since last week, has slowed grape growth and damaged younger vines in France, the world’s second-largest wine producer.