The Ministry of Agriculture’s statistics department, Agreste, forecasts that soft wheat production is likely to fall by almost 25% in 2020, because of weather. Producers are asking the government for an “emergency plan”.

Wheat harvests are expected to be disappointing this year. According to Agreste’s estimates, “soft wheat production will reach 29.7 million tonnes, with an average yield of 68.3 quintals/hectare. This is a year-on-year decrease of 24.9 per cent, and 15.9 per cent lower than the 2015-2019 average.

The production of durum wheat, bought mainly by pasta producers, would fall over one year by 17%. Barley production would also decrease. The ministry deems corn production “uncertain” but, “the yield could increase by 1.5 quintals/hectare over one year in the context of an increased acreage”.

This is because of the autumn rains in the west, which have made planting impossible in many production areas, resulting in a sharp decline in land area. The lack of water in the spring eventually leads to a reduction in yields.

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The call for help from farmers

Given this scenario, wheat producers have been asking the government for an “emergency plan,” to relieve their cash flow. “With production estimated at less than 30 million tonnes of soft wheat, French cereal farmers will experience a tense campaign, perhaps one of the worst in 30 years,” says the Wheat Growers Union (AGPB) in a statement released on August 6.

“Coming after six tough years that have already had a significant impact on incomes, this situation will increase the difficulties of farms and jeopardise a significant number of them,” AGPB continues.

One day after a meeting with Julien Denormandie, the Minister of Agriculture, in the Cher department, the AGPB called for “the adoption without delay of a plan of exceptional measures, including the establishment of crisis units in the departments most affected, the release of the burden-relief fund, exemption from tax on undeveloped land” and early payment of European aid under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Speaking to Mr Denormandie, “farmers were able to explain the dramatic harvest conditions, worse than in 2016. At the AGPB level, there is an average 20% drop in production. It has given us income close to zero this year,” AGPB president Eric Thirouin told AFP.