Drought continues in French pastures

As of 10 October, French pastures continue to suffer from a lack of rain, preventing grass from regrowing. This information comes from a monitoring dashboard published by Agreste on 16 October, which tracks pasture conditions across the country.

Grass growth deficit increases

The deficit in grass growth compared to the reference period from 1989 to 2018 has grown to 43% as of 10 October. This is due to a persistent lack of rain since the heatwave at the end of June, which has hindered the regrowth of grass in permanent pastures.

Worsening conditions over time

The situation has worsened over the months, with a 40% deficit in grass growth as of 20 September. By 30 September, the deficit reached an unprecedented level, nearing 50% in the Grand East and Burgundy regions, while other forage regions saw deficits exceeding 20%, except for the Mediterranean areas.

Isop indicator shows significant drop

The Isop permanent pasture yield indicator in France is at 57 as of 10 October 2027, reflecting a 43% drop in cumulative grass growth compared to the "normal" growth during the same period. Efforts are underway to address the drought through the agricultural rearmament fund, with regional clarifications being made.