Extreme heat slashes tomato and cereal yields in Spain's Extremadura

Agricultural organisations in Extremadura report severe damage from successive heat waves. Tomato producers say losses could exceed 30‑40 % of the crop, with smaller fruit and apical necrosis, while cereal growers estimate a 25 % drop in wheat, oat and barley output due to excessive rain and water‑logged fields earlier in the year.

Juan Metidieri, president of APAG Extremadura Asaja, warned that the heat affected the entire autonomous community, and Óscar Llanos of UPA‑UCE Extremadura raised the potential tomato loss to between 30 % and 40 %. COAG Extremadura president Juan Moreno confirmed the cereal shortfall, attributing it to delayed sowing, heavy rains and subsequent soil saturation that hindered machinery and plant development.