Eloi, a French agricultural research and development organization, has released the third edition of its Agricultural Installation Barometer, which examines how the drought and heatwave of the summer of 2026 impacted farmers who are either starting their agricultural projects or have been in business for less than five years. The study, based on responses from 221 individuals—76% of whom are project holders and 24% are young farmers—was conducted between September 18 and 27. The findings show that while most respondents were affected by the extreme weather conditions, very few have abandoned their plans entirely. Only 4% of those surveyed have given up on their agricultural projects. Among project holders, the harsh summer conditions have shaken confidence but not caused a large-scale withdrawal from the sector. Eight out of ten respondents said the weather had a real impact on their projects, yet 37% still intend to proceed with their original plans. For others, the summer prompted reflection: 28% considered giving up, but only 4% actually did. Despite the challenges, confidence remains relatively strong, with 61% of project holders today expressing quite or very high confidence in their success, down from 77% in February 2026. The study also shows that most project holders are adapting rather than abandoning their goals. Ninety-six percent of them continue with their installation project, though 93% have made changes to at least one aspect of their plan in response to the agricultural crisis. These adaptations include adding new investment positions (43%), increasing budgets (37%), adjusting crop rotations or production methods (35%), and changing the geographic areas they are targeting (28%). Many are also shifting their project timelines or reducing the size of their farms. Project holders now prioritize access to water above other factors, with 66% emphasizing its importance. Other key considerations include the presence of hedges and trees (62%), forage autonomy (51%), building adaptations to heat (50%), and soil quality (45%). Nearly six in ten project holders consider at least three of these factors simultaneously. Once established, 92% of farmers report that they have already changed or plan to change at least one aspect of their farming system, with production methods and livestock management being the most common areas of adjustment. Eloi suggests that to keep farming attractive, especially in areas most vulnerable to climate change, farms must highlight their resilience through factors like adaptive practices, system autonomy, water management, and existing investments. The organization also emphasizes the need to better prepare future farmers by providing technical references, dedicated funding, economic benchmarks, and opportunities for knowledge exchange. Many project holders currently feel they lack these resources, with 42% citing a lack of technical guidance and 40% mentioning insufficient funding.