Although heavy rains in the East of the UK, which was severely affected by drought earlier in the year, are hampering the oilseed rape and barley harvests, elsewhere in the EU the effects of the drought are still being felt. EU farmers’ federation Copa-Cogeca revealed today (20^th July) that in the worst affected areas producers are still facing after effects from the spring drought.

 Copa-cogeca’s President Gerd Sonnleitner said there remains a seriously low availability of fodder in countries affected by drought. He warned that, on average, France, Belgium and areas of Germany and the UK are experiencing around a 30 to 50 per cent drop in fodder.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Sonnleitner said, “In France, for example, there is estimated to be a 15.8 million tonnes loss in fodder and in order to replace this quantity, producers will have to buy straw and cereals and soya costing an estimated 2.2 billion euros.”

In France, regions that escaped the worst effects of the drought have been supplying ‘solidarity straw’ to harder hit regions. The Oise has announced it will supply 50,000 tonnes of fodder to four drought-stricken departments, which are suffering from a dearth of straw for livestock feed and bedding. French daily Le Parisien reported today that yields of forage crops have fallen by between 50 and 70 per cent.

Lorries carrying straw exempt from paying road tolls

 It has been announced this week that lorries carrying France’s ‘solidarity straw’ will be able to forego paying for passage on France’s many toll roads. The road companies have agreed to allow free passage to drivers, without seeking reimbursement from the French government, providing drivers show the appropriate papers.

The ministries of Agriculture and Ecology announced that Local Chambers of Agriculture will be awarding certificates for drivers to present at toll booths. The French minister of Agriculture, Bruno LeMaire, and the Minister of Ecology, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet explained in a joint statement that much of the million tonnes of fodder set to be redistributed would be transported by road. They said around 2,000 trucks per day would ferry the straw to farmers in need until the 15th September.

French rail company also offers reduced tolls in carrying straw aid.

As some of the straw will need to be carried by rail, the French rail company SNCF has also announced price cuts for straw transport as part of the aid effort. In the worst affected parts of France this spring many farmers had to send some of their herd for slaughter early as they could no longer feed them. For many of the country’s producers this aid effort is a lifeline.

In the UK parts of East Anglia remain under drought status. Last week Lord Krebs, Chair of the Adaption Sub-Committee on Climate Change, said the problem of increased water scarcity must be taken more seriously.

Lord Krebs suggested that, in order to cope with drought, which could once again become a serious problem if there is little rainfall this autumn and winter, water meters should be installed in all homes over the next decade in as part of a strategy to address overconsumption.

Unusual weather makes recording harvest results more important than ever

Please remember to renew your harvest results. In this unusual year your results are particularly important in understanding and combating the effects of drought. Results can be submitted anonymously at the harvest results page here.