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June heatwave cuts Europe grain harvest forecasts and hits farmers hard
A new analysis estimates the heatwave destroyed about 10 million tonnes of crops and shaved 9 million tonnes off projected harvest output.
Europe’s June heatwave is estimated to have cut grain production across the continent, lowering the outlook for crops including wheat, barley, maize and oats. Guardian Business reports that the region’s total grain yield is now expected to be 9 million tonnes smaller than previously forecast.
The impact is also tied to crop stages that require reliable weather, with maize hit during pollination and wheat affected during grain fill when cereals need moisture to develop properly. The analysis links the losses to the intense heat that produced the hottest June on record in western Europe.
Guardian Business reports the heatwave cost grain farmers about 2 billion euros in lost revenue, and destroyed roughly 10 million tonnes of crops. Based on current prices, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates the value of the lost grain production at about 2 billion euros, without accounting for wider costs such as losses to vegetables and livestock.
The revised harvest outlook would leave the 27 EU member states and the UK with their smallest harvest since 2018. Guardian Business adds that France is expected to lose about 3.4 million tonnes of maize, with the cost of lost grains projected at 891 million euros.
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