---
title: "Severe EU drought forces early use of winter feed"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83051/severe-eu-drought-forces-early-use-of-winter-feed
published: 2026-08-14T08:01:00Z
language: en
author: "Liubomir Guțu"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Severe EU drought forces early use of winter feed

> A severe drought sweeping across Europe has forced livestock farmers to tap into winter feed reserves months ahead of schedule, as dried-up pastures and damaged crops severely curtail animal feed supplies.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/ad9577c3-2096-4be1-a0e7-1952cade1108.jpg)

A severe drought sweeping across Europe has forced livestock farmers to tap into winter feed reserves months ahead of schedule, as dried-up pastures and damaged crops severely curtail animal feed supplies.

Marked by widespread wildfires and relentless heatwaves, the ongoing climate crisis has exposed nearly 38% of European Union territory to drought conditions, directly affecting 14.8% of agricultural land and 14.5% of forests.

The systemic lack of rainfall is straining the entire agricultural sector, reducing yields for key feed crops like corn and sunflower, as well as staples such as olive oil and wine. France, one of the bloc’s primary corn producers, is facing its weakest harvest since 1980.

For livestock producers, securing adequate feed has become a critical challenge. Parched grasslands have drastically reduced summer grazing areas across Western and Central Europe, making alternative feed sources increasingly scarce and expensive.

In response, farmers and regulatory authorities are resorting to emergency measures, including the early depletion of winter fodder, herd reductions, alternative feed sourcing, and temporary relaxations of agricultural regulations.

**French farmers tap winter reserves early**

In France, agricultural unions warn that feed stock losses range between 30% and 60% depending on the region. As a result, dairy producers are relying on stored fodder typically reserved for autumn and winter, according to Yohann Barbe, president of the FNPL dairy producers' federation.

Farmers face a growing risk of running out of feed entirely if weather conditions do not improve before the upcoming sugar beet harvest, when beet pulp can be repurposed for livestock.

Dried pastures have also directly impacted dairy yield. Because summer milk production in France relies heavily on grazing, degraded grasslands have driven a 3% to 4% drop in milk output. Anticipating further feed shortages, cattle farmers are actively downsizing herds and increasing slaughter rates.

Similarly, Spanish farmers are struggling with parched pasturelands and surging feed costs after enduring unseasonably high temperatures as early as May, when heat reached 32°C to 35°C. Despite relatively stable winter rainfall, the early onset of extreme heat rapidly dried out pasturelands and severely depleted local water supplies.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**