Basque Country agricultural drought crisis

Agricultural and livestock organizations in the Basque Country have raised alarms regarding a severe drought that intensified in May. Initial reports from groups such as Enba and UAGA highlighted the depletion of spring reserves and the inability of rural farms to secure livestock feed for winter. The shortage has already impacted milk production, with decreases of five to seven liters per cow per day, and has affected the reproduction rates of sheep and cattle.

In late August, tensions escalated into direct action. The association Ataca led a tractor protest in Vitoria-Gasteiz, involving approximately 30 tractors, to demand that the Basque Government officially designate Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa as drought zones to unlock emergency aid. Ataca president Raul Beitia described the situation as extreme, noting that mountains have been devoid of grass since July.

By late August, Agroseguro reported that the month was one of the most unusual in agricultural insurance history, with approximately 3,230 hectares of crops damaged in the southern Basque Country. While the Basque Minister of Food, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, stated that paths toward collective feed purchasing are being explored, agricultural unions including UAGK, EHNE, and ENBA have criticized the government for delays in convening the Feed Table. Farmers also cited external pressures, such as international conflicts impacting fuel and fertilizer prices, and trade agreements that allow products to enter the market without meeting local quality standards.