Rain-Hit Crops Create Triple Whammy for French Grain Farmers

Soaring Production Costs, Falling Yields, and Reduced Exports

For Jean Lefevre and many other French grain farmers, the past year has been one of the most challenging in memory. Persistent rainfall has wreaked havoc on their crops, leading to a triple whammy of soaring production costs, falling yields, and reduced exports.

The Perfect Storm

The problems began last fall, when heavy rains delayed sowings and hurt crop development. The wet weather continued into the spring, leading to disease outbreaks, stunted growth, and reduced grain quality. As a result, yields are expected to be down by as much as 20% this year.

Rising Costs

The poor weather conditions have also driven up production costs for farmers. The need to replant crops, apply additional pesticides and fertilizers, and hire extra labor has put a significant strain on their budgets. Many farmers are now struggling to make ends meet.

Falling Exports

The reduced crop yields have also had a negative impact on French grain exports. France is the European Union's largest grain exporter, but the poor harvest will likely reduce exports by as much as 10% this year. This will hurt the country's trade balance and could lead to higher prices for grain consumers around the world.