EU report shows summer crop yields down up to 14% amid heat and drought

Exceptional heatwaves and prolonged drought have reduced summer crop yields across the European Union by up to 14%, according to a new European Commission report released on Tuesday, August 25, as the bloc's agriculture sector faces one of its most punishing summers in recent memory.

The Joint Research Centre's MARS Bulletin found that soybean yields dropped 14% below the five-year average, while green maize fell 12%, with France, Hungary, southern Germany, and northern Italy bearing the brunt of the damage. High temperatures combined with severe rainfall deficits accelerated premature senescence and impaired grain filling for maize, sunflowers, and soybeans across western and central Europe.sofiaglobe+2

Fodder Crisis and Regional Impacts

Beyond row crops, fodder supply has emerged as a growing concern across the continent. Persistent heat and drought have reduced pasture availability and biomass accumulation, raising alarms about livestock feed across western and central Europe. In Benelux countries, Slovenia, and Croatia, hot and dry conditions further reduced yield expectations, particularly for maize.aa+1

The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↘ 13.24% reported that the prolonged hot and dry conditions have "considerably deteriorated summer crop outlooks throughout western and much of central Europe". Winter cereals largely escaped the devastation, however, as farmers completed harvests earlier in the season, with total EU wheat yield matching the five-year average.wsj+1

France Hit Hardest

France experienced five consecutive heat waves this summer alongside a severe rainfall deficit since late May. French potato production is expected to fall at least 23% from last year, potentially resulting in the lowest yield in more than three decades. Geoffroy D'Evry, president of the National Union of French Potato Producers, said yields are projected at around 34.5 tonnes per hectare, down from 43.5 tonnes in 2025. The French potato industry estimates nearly €400 million in economic losses.aa

EU Response

EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen acknowledged the severity of the crisis. "This summer has been particularly difficult for farmers across the EU. Drought and extreme heat are putting crops, fodder, livestock, and farmers' incomes under increasing pressure," Hansen said. He added that the events are "a reminder that we must prepare for a future in which extreme weather becomes more frequent."sofiaglobe

The Commission pointed to the Common Agricultural Policy as a tool for building resilience, supporting investments in efficient irrigation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and water-saving technologies. France's Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has announced plans for a "comprehensive plan" to assist affected farmers, with decisions on aid allocation expected after a meeting of prefects scheduled for August 27.aa+1