French maize farmers are facing a difficult harvest season as repeated heatwaves and severe drought continue to damage crops and increase production costs.
In southwestern France, farmer Sébastien Maylin is among those dealing with the effects of extreme weather. His maize plants have produced unusually small cobs, leaving him concerned that the value of his harvest may not cover the cost of seeds, fertiliser and other inputs.
The situation is being reported across farming communities, with drought-stressed plants showing significant signs of damage. Some farmers have decided to harvest their maize earlier and turn entire plants into silage for livestock feed rather than wait for grain production to improve.
France’s maize sector has been particularly affected by this year’s extreme weather. Production is expected to fall by at least 35% compared with 2025, while losses on non-irrigated farms could be substantially higher.
Some independent estimates suggest the country’s maize harvest could drop below seven million metric tonnes, potentially making it one of the weakest harvests in decades.
One major concern is the timing of the heat. Unlike the devastating European heatwave of 2003, which arrived in August when many crops were close to maturity, this year’s extreme temperatures came much earlier.
Temperatures above 35°C, combined with depleted soil moisture, affected maize during flowering, a critical period for crop development. Agricultural assessments have subsequently placed crop conditions at their weakest level in more than a decade.
The consequences are spreading beyond maize. France’s overall agricultural output is projected to decline by about 8% this year, while livestock farmers are also dealing with significantly reduced fodder production.
The economic impact could be wider. France’s finance ministry estimates that the extreme weather could reduce economic growth by 0.1%, while Environment Minister Monique Barbut has put the overall direct and indirect cost of the heatwaves at between €10 billion and €15 billion.
The crisis is not limited to France. The European Commission has reduced its forecast for the European Union’s maize harvest to 51.9 million metric tonnes, which would represent the bloc’s lowest projected production since 2007.
For French farmers, the shrinking harvest is becoming another warning about the growing economic risks of extreme heat and drought and the urgent need for agricultural adaptation.
