Heatwave ends, farmers face consequences

The heatwave is finally over. The seven departments on orange alert were lifted from this state of alert at 6 a.m. The consequences of this heatwave are also being felt by farmers. Threatened poultry, stunted strawberries, starving cows... Crops and animals have suffered from the intense heat.

In Savoie, for example, the lack of rain and the frightening temperatures recorded in recent days are directly slowing fruit growth. Farmers sometimes have to cover their animals with a damp sheet during milking to keep them cool.

In 2003, the date of the worst recent heatwave, between 4 and 5 million poultry died, according to the industry. "There were days when the temperature in the henhouse was 50 degrees," says Dominique Josserand.

The heatwave at the end of June was "almost nothing but bliss" because it filled the fruit with sunshine and sugar, according to Daniel Sauvaitre, president of the Interprofessional Fruit and Vegetable Association (Interfel). But the August heatwave is more "worrying," "since we're seeing restrictions on water withdrawals."

Farmers are now forced to adapt to climate change . After last year's torrential rains, this summer's blazing sun is disrupting the crops of Antoine Helleboid, a farmer in Pas-de-Calais. "There are places where they haven't harvested yet, while we finished several weeks ago. Usually, it's the other way around," he explains.

He is therefore forced to adapt: “The problem is that there were only a few millimeters, which are not enough to water the fields, but are enough to disrupt the crops. So for the moment, we leave the equipment and the seeds in the shed, we are stuck.”

Dry soil is also a problem faced by Dominique Josserand, a farmer who is worried about his animals and crops. “The poultry that have to spend all day outside no longer go out in the afternoon. They can no longer peck because there's nothing. The cows are also very afraid of the heat.”

On the fruit side, however, June was a good month. But with the persistent heat, professionals also fear a quarter-cut in production.