06/05/2011

Yesterday the number of French départements affected by water restrictions as a result of the dry conditions affecting much of central Europe nearly doubled. The figure shot from 9 to 15 the French Ministry for ecology announced last night (5 April).

Fully half of the North of France “is experiencing levels of dryness in the soil not known in April for the past 50 years” according to meteorologists at Meteo France. The phenomenon is affecting all of Northern Europe, with fires reported in some parts of the UK this week. However, France’s northern departments are suffering under the most severe water restrictions.

In France, action is being taken in several regions to cope with the dry weather. Meteorological stations in the département of Isère recorded “a deficit of between 30 and 40% of rainfall between January and April” revealed Jacques Lionet, environmental spokesperson for the departmental territories directorate (DDT). Lionet announced that “provisory” measures have been taken in four regions whereby the washing of cars is forbidden, excluding professional carwashes, in combination with hosepipe bans and a ban on watering of golf courses, public gardens and sports pitches between 6am and 8pm.

France’s largest agricultural union, FNSEA, has estimated a 30-50% loss of forage from the spring crop; worrying news for regions that have seen decreasing amounts harvested since 2009. The union called on its members “to not waste hay” for livestock consumption. “We are really suffering here” was the testimony of farmers in Charente interviewed by French daily Le Progrès yesterday. Liliane Voisin, of the Charente chamber of agriculture, which has issued a “call for solidarity”, explained, “The grass isn’t growing here; grass isn’t regrowing after the cows have eaten it. It’s like the middle of July here.”

Prospect of rain uncertain for the next few months

Forecasts predict that May, June and July will all be “hotter than average”, revealed Michel Schneider, spokesperson for Meteo France. Schneider said, “rainfall, if it does occur, will be largely absorbed by vegetation or evaporate before it replenishes groundwater sources.”

 Ecology minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet has announced a « drought committee » meeting for the 16th May to take stock of the situation in France. However, the committee meeting may prove too little too late for farmers like Gérard Gallo. Gallo, a grower from the Loire region, has lost half of his cereal crop due to a lack of available water. He said he is desperate for rain to return in time to save his crop of hay.

Jacques Lemaître, president of the Chamber of Agruculture in the Loire region, said “grass growth has been extremely slow since April 15^th, and while the quality is still good, the quantity does not meet targets.” He revealed that yields are currently at low levels expected in late June in the region.

The potential lack of stock has many farmers deeply concerned as, according to Ouest-France, most farms started the year "with little feed and without stock." Lemâitre expressed concern that “many departments have found themselves in a similar situation. Competition may be intense and prices high if we are forced to look to imports of stock,” he said.