France drought causes significant decline in alfalfa and forage production

Severe drought conditions across France have led to a substantial decrease in agricultural yields, particularly affecting alfalfa and forage crops. Pierre Bégoc, CEO of Désialis, reported that dehydrated alfalfa production for 2026 is expected to drop by more than 20 percent compared to the five-year average, potentially performing worse than the difficult 1976 season.

The dry weather has also created sowing difficulties that may impact the 2027 campaign. While Désialis expects to honor its contractual obligations due to early market organization, the company has prioritized domestic and European markets over large-scale exports, noting a lack of flow to the Middle East due to shipping difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Dunkerque region of maritime Flanders, drought from May to August has reduced forage stocks and degraded vegetable crop quality. Simon Ammeux, president of the Hauts-de-France Chamber of Agriculture, noted that losses for forage maize vary between 10 and 40 percent depending on the zone. The lack of precipitation has forced dairy farmers to rely heavily on winter stocks to feed livestock.