Letters: Don’t forget that climate change hits French farmers too
Connexion reader highlights the uphill struggle against drought, flooding and varying temperatures
Waterlogged fields from this year's heavy rain reduced farmers' yields
ESTELLE R/Shutterstock
After reading recent letters condemning French farmers for their insensitivity and lack of foresight, I believe it is worth considering an alternative perspective.
Whether directly or indirectly, climate change has clearly impacted the environment.
French farmers faced an unusually rainy summer in 2024 following years of drought. These weather extremes caused significant damage to various crops, making farming more difficult and unpredictable.
1. Cereal and organic farmers
The excessive rain, particularly in spring, delayed sowing and encouraged weeds, leading to a drastic drop in yields.
For example, soft wheat yields decreased by 17%, with organic farmers hit even harder.
Many cereal growers were so disheartened they considered quitting, as the wet conditions made access to fields nearly impossible without risking tractors getting stuck.
2. Dairy farmers
Wet meadows forced dairy farmers to keep their animals indoors, impacting their grazing schedules and reducing milk production by about 20%.
The rain also made haymaking more difficult, as wet conditions prevented crops from drying properly.
3. Winegrowers
Wine production was also severely affected, declining by 18% overall.
Frost and rain caused diseases like mildew, doubling labour and treatment costs for vineyards, with production plummeting in regions like Jura.
Winegrowers were exhausted by these conditions but showed resilience, though they face increasing difficulty in adapting to climate change.
4. General impact
Across all sectors, farmers struggled to find "weather windows" to carry out essential work, with many reporting that agricultural production has become increasingly unpredictable.
Climate change has shifted what used to be occasional extreme years into more frequent occurrences, making both droughts and excessive rain more difficult to manage.
Instead of criticising French foresters, we should acknowledge that their approach to forest management over the past century has been far more effective in providing a renewable energy source than anything seen in the United Kingdom.
French woodlands are sustainably harvested and replanted, ensuring future growth. Wildlife naturally relocates from harvested areas to those replanted years earlier, creating a balance within the ecosystem.
The criticism of French farmers would better suited to British industrialists, who have persistently extracted non-renewable energy sources by digging into the earth and drilling in the seabed.
To make matters worse, there are strict restrictions on the use of log burners and fireplaces in the UK.
The French approach to forest management is rooted in a belief that it 'keeps you warm in seven ways': through the labour of planting, felling, stacking, transporting, unloading, and cutting the wood to size, all of which warm the worker through hard effort.
The seventh, of course, is burning the logs.
Barry, Limousin
Have you noted a decline in French biodiversity in recent years? Do you think that the farmers are responsible? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com
