France will provide farmers with several hundred million euros in compensation for the extensive damage caused by the extreme summer heat and drought. The ministry of agriculture is set to present details of the aid package next week.

The drought affected approximately 65% of the country's territory, and 60% of groundwater reserves fell below normal levels. The average temperature in July reached 24.9C, some 3.8C above the seasonal average, exceeding the previous records set in 2003 and 1976.

Crop losses reached at least 50% in some areas, rising to 70%–80% in the worst-hit regions. Grain corn production is expected to fall by 34%, and feed corn production by 30%. Several types of vegetables also lost about half their usual yield.

Growers expect the potato harvest to fall by 23% and the sugar beet harvest to decline by more than one-fifth. In some areas, the harvest of small red berries and non-irrigated artichokes was wiped out entirely.

Most regions are also reporting serious damage to pastures. Fires have affected agricultural or forest land in all French regions.

(Reuters, bak)