The abnormal heat has led to a crisis in France’s agricultural sector. Dairy production has been hit especially hard, with losses in the industry estimated at between 20% and 30%. This was reported on July 16 by the TV channel France Info, citing preliminary estimates from the French National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA).

“Morale on French farms is at its lowest level. <…> This is a catastrophe for French farms,” said FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau, commenting on the prolonged drought, heatwave, and large-scale wildfires across the country.

Noting that all sectors of agriculture have faced the crisis, and that in some regions crops were completely destroyed by the heat, Rousseau also pointed to ongoing economic problems. According to him, fertilizer prices have risen by about 30% since the beginning of the year, while prices for agricultural products remain at record low levels.

In response to the situation, the French government announced about €150 million in aid, which is to take effect from August 1. Farmers’ representatives also called on the authorities to engage in closer dialogue on measures to support the sector.

According to data from the European mortality monitoring system dated July 13, at least 10,000 people died in Europe because of the extreme heat that swept across the western part of the continent at the end of June. The data were compiled from national mortality statistics of 27 European countries for the week of June 22 to 28, when the heat peaked in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe on July 14 show that France sharply increased its use of gas from storage in early July amid the abnormal heat. France’s use of gas reserves is incomparably higher than that of other European countries that have also faced prolonged heat.