Drought squeezes livestock sector across the EU
France, Spain and Germany take measures to cope with worsening feed shortages.
The drought sweeping across Europe is putting growing pressure on livestock farmers, forcing many to use winter forage reserves months earlier than usual as dry pastures and damaged crops reduce available feed.
This summer has been marked by widespread heat and wildfires, with about 38% of EU land exposed to drought, according to official data. Cropland and forests have also been significantly affected, with 14.8% of cropland and 14.5% of forests exposed to drought conditions.
The effects are being felt across European agriculture, affecting products ranging from olive oil and wine to key livestock feed crops such as maize and sunflowers.
France, one of the EU’s largest maize producers, is heading toward its lowest harvest since 1980, further tightening feed supplies.
Farmers turn to reserves
For livestock farmers, the most immediate concern is the availability and cost of animal feed.
Dried-out grasslands have reduced grazing opportunities across parts of western and central Europe, while poor crop harvests have made alternative feed supplies scarcer and more expensive.
Farmers are responding by opening winter feed stocks early, reducing herd sizes, searching for alternative feed sources and, in some cases, taking advantage of temporary changes to farming rules.
France faces forage shortages
In France, the farmers’ union Confederation Paysanne has warned that forage stocks could fall by between 30% and 60%, depending on the region.
The union said restrictions on access to grazing areas, particularly in regions affected by wildfires or considered at risk, have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to secure feed.
As a result, farmers are using stored feed normally reserved for autumn and winter, Yohann Barbe, president of the dairy farmers’ federation FNPL, told Euractiv.
“If the situation continues, we risk running short,” Barbe said, adding that farmers were now looking ahead to the sugar beet harvest, when beet pulp could be used as animal feed.
The lack of pasture is also affecting dairy production. Much of France’s summer milk production depends on grazing, and dried-out grasslands have contributed to a 3% to 4% decline in milk output, according to Barbe.
Beef farmers anticipating feed shortages are also reducing their herds and sending more animals to slaughter. The additional supply is contributing to a decline in meat prices that had already begun before the summer.
Spain faces rising feed costs
Farmers in Spain are facing similar challenges as pastures dry out and feed costs rise.
“In May, we were already seeing temperatures of 32-35ºC,” said Juan Luis Delgado of the farming union ASAJA.
Although winter rainfall had been relatively favorable, the early onset of high temperatures caused pastures to dry out and reduced water availability.
Delgado also pointed to poor cereal and straw harvests in Spain and other parts of Europe, which have pushed up feed costs.
He said export restrictions linked to animal diseases were adding further pressure to prices.
“We were coming off a good year thanks to open markets. For almost the first time, it was profitable,” Delgado said.
Germany relaxes organic farming rules
In Bavaria, Germany, authorities have relaxed rules for organic farms, allowing them to purchase conventional feed because of what officials described as “catastrophic” circumstances.
The measure is permitted under EU rules for exceptional situations and is intended to help farmers deal with severe shortages of organic feed.
Ireland assesses winter supplies
Ireland is assessing the potential impact of the drought on winter feed supplies before deciding whether further measures are needed.
The government has asked farmers to calculate their expected feed requirements, with Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon saying on Wednesday that any further action would depend on the results of the survey later this month.
Calls grow for long-term planning
The Brussels-based think tank Farm Europe said the current crisis highlights the need for stronger preparations for future droughts and increasingly difficult summers.
“We need both an emergency plan and an investment plan to prevent European agriculture from falling behind and to strengthen its resilience,” Farm Europe Secretary-General Luc Vernet told Euractiv.
As drought conditions continue to affect pastures, crops and water supplies across Europe, farmers are increasingly relying on emergency measures to protect livestock and maintain production, while concerns grow over the availability of feed in the coming winter.
Source:Euractiv
