# French agricultural production and forage challenges

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-agricultural-production-and-forage-challenges
> Updated: 2026-09-09T10:57:21.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Agricultural reports from France indicate a period of fluctuating yields and resource shortages driven by weather conditions. Initial assessments of grain harvests showed a decline in volume for wheat and barley due to extreme weather and reduced planting areas. While soft wheat production fell by 4.3% and durum wheat by 16.6%, the quality of these crops remained high, with soft wheat exhibiting protein levels above the five-year average.

Following these grain reports, the focus shifted to a significant forage deficit caused by poor grass growth and inconsistent corn yields. Cumulative grass growth was reported as 37% lower than the 1989-2018 average, affecting nearly the entire country. In regions such as Normandy, the lack of pasture regrowth has forced livestock farmers to utilize reserves, raising concerns about feed stocks for the 2026/2027 winter.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: France faces significant forage deficit due to low grass growth

France faces a major forage shortage as cumulative grass growth fell 37% below normal levels by late August 2026, threatening livestock feed stocks for the upcoming winter.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-faces-significant-forage-deficit-due-to-low-grass-growth

### 2026-08-20: France grain harvests decline in volume but show high quality

France's wheat and barley harvests show declining volumes due to climate extremes, but FranceAgriMer reports high grain quality and promising protein levels for soft wheat.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-grain-harvests-decline-in-volume-but-show-high-quality

---
Cite as: French agricultural production and forage challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-agricultural-production-and-forage-challenges