Severe Drought in France Cuts Corn Yield by 34%

September 28, 2026 · Bloomberg HT

Historic drought and water restrictions across France have pushed corn production to its lowest level since 1980, threatening winter crops and the livestock sector.

Severe Drought and Water Restrictions in France

The hot and dry weather wave that affected France during the summer months continues to persist into the autumn. According to Meteo-France data, as of September 20, 84% of the country's land experienced a drought of a severity that occurs only once every 10 years for the month of September. Only one day between September 1-22 saw daily rainfall exceeding 1 millimeter across the country, with rainfall in coastal areas and southern regions remaining well below normal levels. Due to the drought, water restrictions were implemented in 93 French departments as of September 10, with 74 of these regions entering the highest crisis level.

Critical Levels in Groundwater Resources

According to information reported by Bloomberg, water restrictions have completely banned water withdrawal for field crops, while limited irrigation is permitted only during nighttime hours for market gardening, nurseries, and young vineyards. Although livestock activities are exempt from these restrictions, groundwater resources present an alarming picture. Data from the French Geological and Mining Research Bureau shows that as of September 1, groundwater levels were below the monthly average at 61% of monitoring points. Water levels in aquifers in Limousin, Jura, and northern Alsace are described as very low, while high temperatures and evaporation have completely depleted soil moisture.

Historic Production Loss in Corn Yield

The second hottest and driest summer on record in 2026 has directly impacted agricultural production figures. Agreste, the statistical unit of the French Ministry of Agriculture, announced its forecast for 2026 grain corn production at 9 million tons. This represents a sharp 34% decrease compared to the 13.7 million tons produced in 2025. Consequently, France's corn yield has fallen to its lowest level since 1980. With an average yield of 70.3 quintals per hectare and a planted area of 1.28 million hectares, market estimates suggest production could fall below 7 million tons.

Expectation of Rain for Rapeseed and Wheat Planting

Dry soil conditions also pose significant risks for new season winter plantings. The most pressing issue for producers is with rapeseed planting, where the period of September 15-20 is considered a critical threshold for the crop to develop before pests arrive. According to data from the oilseed institute Terres Inovia, at least 15 millimeters of rain are required for healthy emergence in the seedbed. However, models from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts predict insufficient rainfall until October 6. The delay in soft wheat planting, which begins in October, due to drought directly threatens France's position as the largest wheat exporter in the European Union.

Pasture Drying and Fodder Shortage in Livestock Farming

The extreme drought across the country has directly impacted livestock farms. In many regions, pastures failed to regrow after the first cut in spring and have completely dried up. As a result, livestock farms began consuming their fodder stocks, normally reserved for the winter season, earlier in the summer. If the rainfall deficit and drought continue, there are concerns that producers will enter November with extremely low fodder stocks. The inadequacy of pastures and rising fodder costs are severely pressuring the production plans and profitability of animal breeders.

Forest Fires and Energy Sector Disruptions

Extreme drought and hot weather conditions have led to widespread forest fires and energy supply issues. By the end of July, over 115,000 hectares in France had burned, with approximately 250,000 people evacuated in the Gironde and Landes regions. Production restrictions were imposed on nuclear power plants due to the overheating of river waters and reduced flow rates, and one reactor at the Golfech plant was shut down. Hydropower production has also been negatively affected by the drought, and this crisis situation in France continues to be a critical part of the widespread drought conditions across the European Union and the UK.

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