Extreme Weather Affects Europe’s Crops and Fodder Supply
Mohammad Ali (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 25th Aug, 2026)
Persistent heat and lack of rainfall over the past two months are significantly impacting summer crops and fodder supply across western and central Europe. According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)’s MARS bulletin, the most affected regions include:
- France, southern Germany, northern and central Italy, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and western Romania.
- Benelux countries, Slovenia, and Croatia, where hot and dry conditions have reduced yield expectations for summer crops, particularly maize.
- Large parts of western and central Europe are facing concerns regarding fodder supply due to limited pasture availability and biomass accumulation caused by prolonged heat and drought.
Published monthly, the JRC MARS bulletin aids the European Commission in monitoring agricultural conditions and addressing farmer difficulties. The Commission is committed to supporting farmers through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which aims to:
- Enhance resilience and sustainability in agriculture.
- Support investments in efficient irrigation, climate-resilient infrastructure, water-saving technologies, and better water management.
- Encourage a shift towards more climate-resilient crop varieties.
Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, stated:
"This summer has been particularly challenging for farmers across the EU. Drought and extreme heat are placing increasing pressure on crops, fodder, livestock, and farmer incomes. We are actively monitoring these developments, gathering insights directly from the ground. These events underscore the need to prepare for a future with more frequent extreme weather."
Related Topics:
- Weather
- Water
- Europe
- Agriculture
- Drought
- France
- Germany
- Austria
- Italy
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Croatia
- Hungary
