Brussels, 24/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to European Commission forecasts published on 11 August, the heat waves and droughts experienced by Europe in July is expected to result in lower agricultural yield in 2006. The Commission is expecting grain yields of 9 tonnes (t) per hectare (ha), 3.6% lower than last year, which was a mediocre year in itself. The corps most affected by falling yields are expected to be grain maize (-5.1% in 2005 at 7.9 t/ha), potato (-4.3% at 28.3 t/ha), durum wheat (-4% at 5.7 t/ha), sugar beet (-3% à 58.3 t/ha), as well as winter barley (-2% à 5.1 t/ha).
The Commission points out that, “Frequent and persistent heat waves associated with dry conditions characterised the whole month of July. At the same time, the drought and the heat stress phenomena moved northward through the continent affecting particularly those areas where the winter crops were still at their sensitive stage”. With the consequence that, “Both in southern and in northern Europe, the spring-summer crops, in full vegetative to flowering phase, were suffering from the above-mentioned conditions”. The Commission points out that all this also had an impact on water reservoirs, reducing the irrigation resources mainly for grain maize, sugar beet and potatoes.
Commission data demonstrates that the most severely affected EU Member States were France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.
Durum wheat yields are expected to fall by 13.4% in Poland compared to 2005 and by 9% in the United Kingdom, 8.6% in Italy, 3% in France and by 1.8% in Germany. Reductions in barley yields are expected to reach 9.6% in Poland, 5.6% in Germany, 4.5% in the United Kingdom and 1.4% in France (winter barley). Potato yield reductions are expected to reach 9% in Germany, 7.9% in the United Kingdom and 5% for Poland. Sugar beets are expected to fall by 25.3% in Italy, 4.6% in Germany and by 1.8% in France. Rape seed production will experience estimated falls of 1.3% in the United Kingdom and 4% in France. Commission figures also forecast falls in Italy of 9.6% in sunflowers and 7.5% in grain maize.
The Commission notes that compared to the 2003 drought, the geographic area affected by the yield reduction is greater. However, “water shortage started later and therefore the yield reduction is lower for the majority of crops”.
On 11 August the Commission adopted a decision adding five countries: Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark and Slovenia to the list of farmers allowed to use fodder from land left fallow to feed cattle. As a rule this possibility does not exist until after 31 August but this derogation is necessary to ensure animals are fed in regions most affected by the drought (EUROPE 9241 on the decision on the first group of nine Member States).