Heatwave in Europe, which has killed over 1,300 people, reduces harvest potential in the EU
The second wave of heat that has hit Europe, mainly France, Spain and the UK, has caused human casualties and continues to negatively affect the spring crop harvest in France - Europe's largest grain producer.
Since June 21, more than 1,300 deaths have been recorded in Europe related to record-high temperatures (36-45 ° C) that have swept across much of the continent.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told X Network that "Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, and the rate of warming here is twice the global average. 150 million people are currently living in extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are closed, and power systems are strained." He attributed the situation to climate change and global warming.
The heat is being exacerbated by the development of the El Niño phenomenon, which will be the strongest in history. France has been hit hardest by the heat, which will negatively affect the country, especially after the week of May heat.
The heat accelerates crop ripening, but greatly reduces the yield of winter crops. According to the state agency FranceAgriMer, as of June 22, French farmers had threshed 7% of soft winter wheat crops (1% on the same date on average over the past five years), 19% (4%) of winter durum wheat crops, 42% (14%) of winter barley crops, and 7% (1%) of spring barley.
During June 14-21, the condition of grain crops deteriorated. The share of winter soft wheat crops in good and excellent condition decreased to 74% (76% a week ago and 68% last year), winter barley - to 71% (73% and 64%), durum wheat - to 58% (63% and 63%), corn - to 76% (84% and 81%).
The heat is also worsening the condition of spring crops, especially corn and spring barley, which has already led to an increase in quotes for these crops on the Paris stock exchange.
August corn futures on the Euronext exchange in Paris rose 7.3% in a week to €228.25/t or $259.8/t. And physical prices for spring barley in France are now €15-20/t higher than for winter feed barley of the new crop.
Precipitation is forecast for parts of France in the coming days, but it will not be very intense and will not occur in all regions, and will only partially lower the temperature. And by the end of the week, a new heat wave of 30-35 0 C is expected.
