France’s maize harvest projected to hit 50‑year low amid heatwave

Farmers and analysts say a third consecutive heatwave and lack of rain have driven French maize conditions to their lowest level in at least 15 years. Grain trade body Coceral cut the EU maize outlook by almost 8% to 52.7 million tonnes, the lowest level since 2007, citing damage in France, Hungary and Spain. Senior grain analyst Benoit Fayaud estimates the French crop at 8.9 million tonnes – roughly a third below last year’s output – and warns production could fall below 8 million tonnes, a level not seen since 1976. Some western French growers have begun cutting non‑irrigated maize early to use the stalks as livestock fodder, and the growers’ association AGPM expects a 30% drop to about 9.5 million tonnes. While the French situation worsens, Romania is benefiting from ample rain, with forecasts of an 8.2 million‑tonne harvest, offsetting its own recent drought‑related losses.

The reduced French output threatens overall EU corn supplies and could tighten markets for feed and food industries across the continent.