The summer of 2022 is very tough for France. Between heat waves, heat waves and drought, this summer is complicated for all sectors. 66 departments are affected by a severe drought, forcing farmers to adapt their way of working. The National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) is sounding the alarm about the consequences of this drought.
“The situation of drought coupled with heat waves which has been hitting France exceptionally for several months has had extremely serious consequences for agriculture, which will undoubtedly have repercussions on the diet of the French” warns the FNSEA on its site . “For many productions, declining yield and quality is a reality,” the union continues.
Even if for the moment the French are not directly affected in their way of consuming, this could end up happening: “The mechanically resulting drop in production will inevitably have consequences on the production of milk and meat” explains the FNSEA . A fear confirmed by Yannick Fialip, breeder and president of the union’s economic commission, at the microphone of Franceinfo: “I think that in the coming months, we will have a shortage of milk in France. To make milk, you need fodder, mainly alfalfa and corn, which have grown little this year.” After the mustard shortage, the French could face a shortage of milk.
To overcome this shortage, the breeder asks for an increase in the price of milk: “The price of milk in France is 20% lower than the price of milk paid to other European producers. One of the first measures would be to better remunerate our breeders, which would allow them to have better cash flow and ensure the sustainability of the sector”. A solution that risks hurting the portfolio of French people, who have already been affected by inflation for several months.
