Grain farmers had already indicated that this year's harvest could be one of the worst in the past forty years. The latest figures confirm this grim forecast. Compared to last year, grain production is expected to decrease by 10 million tons.
The situation is especially dramatic for the wheat harvest. France, normally the largest producer and exporter of soft wheat in Europe, is recording one of the three lowest harvests in the past forty years. A wet winter and insufficient sunshine have damaged the fields. The harvest is expected to be 25% below the average of the past five years; only about 26 million tons are anticipated.
And French winemakers have little reason to celebrate either. According to the Ministry’s report, wine yields will decline significantly in nearly all French growing regions. The cause is diseases affecting the vines, mainly due to high humidity and difficult weather conditions such as frost and hail.
Wine production this year is expected to range between 40 and 43 million hectoliters — 10% to 16% less than in 2023 and 3% to 10% less than the average from 2019 to 2023.
In view of these bleak prospects, the French government announced at the end of July that it would activate special aid for grain farmers in case of a poor harvest.
One thing is clear: French farmers need to prepare for tougher times — and consumers probably do too. If the beloved baguette and equally beloved wine become scarce, this will not only be felt in the agricultural countryside but also in supermarkets and home kitchens.