13/05/2011

Although some areas in Britain are now getting small amounts of much-needed rainfall and the dry weather is benefitting soft fruit and asparagus growers, a lack of rain in the South and in Northern France is continuing to have a marked effect on agricultural operations. The spectre of 1976 still hangs over much of the European countryside.image expired

The question ‘what if 2011 is worse than 1976?’ no longer seems farfetched; farmers, growers, anglers, ecologists and lately politicians are all deeply concerned. The situation already has the makings of a catastrophe; after a particularly dry spring, an April which broke records for its lack of rainfall and May which, despite some meagre showers, does not inspire much hope. April was the hottest England has experienced for at least 352 years and the continued dryness is threatening crops across Europe, where a fifth of the world’s wheat is produced.

Water restrictions increase on the continent

The French minister for ecology, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet confirmed at the National Assembly that “we are moving into summer with very low water tables and extremely dry topsoils, even drier than in 1976. Prefects have already implemented water restrictions in over twenty départements, unfortunately, this number will probably increase.” The water restrictions, according to the minister, serve to “prioritise water usage for healthcare, drinking water and to preserve aquatic life in hard-hit regions.”

Bruno LeMaire, minister for agriculture, who is also deeply concerned by the drought, announced yesterday that farmers could now use fallow land “freely” to graze their livestock. His announcement was welcomed in the hardest hit regions, where farmers say they have difficulty feeding their animals as “the fields have been turned into doormats” by the baking sun and lack of rain. Some say they can no longer feed their animals and have therefore had to send them to the abattoir.

In France, a ‘Drought Committee’ has been organised, made up of farmers, businesses and other stakeholders. The committee met yesterday (12 ^th May) at the Ministry of Agriculture, and will continue to do so fortnightly until conditions improve. LeMaire announced that the issue of irrigation in regions affected by the drought was under consideration. He said “If the situation worsens, we will take supplementary measures.”

River levels in UK mirror 1976 

In Britain, the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology’s monthly report shows water levels in the country’s rivers were the lowest on record for the end of last month; the Exe, Tone, Wye, Tawe and Ribble were all lower than or at a similar level to the 1976 drought. The drought conditions have affected reservoirs, which are also low, and the land is the driest it has been in England and Wales for over 50 years, with some areas reporting forest fires.

The Centre of Ecology and Hydrology also said the exceptionally dry spring, following a relatively dry 2010, had led to ‘drought conditions’ in agriculture and hydrology across the south. The Environment Agency has placed limits on the amount of water farmers can use for irrigation in some areas.

The dry weather is believed to have damaged 5 percent of England’s wheat crop. Andrew Dewing, owner of Aylsham marketer Dewing Grain, expressed his fears, “We are incredibly parched. The forecast this month is predominately sunny. It’s an ongoing issue. And it’s not just us. There’s been an effect on the crop and that means we’ve got a minimal exportable surplus.” Plants which have emerged from winter dormancy did so around three weeks earlier than normal; the lack of moisture causing stress to these plants may result in yield losses.