French corn output hits 1976 low

French corn production has dropped to its lowest level since 1976, according to estimates by Arvalis, with output falling to 7.04 million metric tons due to heatwaves and a lack of rainfall over several months.

AGPM calls for urgent government support

The Association des Grands Producteurs de Maïs (AGPM) has requested a "surge" in government support to help producers restart the 2027 corn campaign, citing losses of 2.5 billion euros for French corn farms.

Production decline worsened by land use changes

Franck Laborde, president of the AGPM, noted that the decline in production is compounded by a drop in sown areas, with 232,000 hectares of land transferred to biogas or forage, and historic decreases in yield to 45.9 q/ha for rain-fed corn and 96.7 q/ha for irrigated corn.

AGPM requests 450 €/ha in aid

The AGPM is requesting aid amounting to 450 € per hectare, which would include direct support as well as measures such as derogations to avoid planting intercrops due to dry soils, which could save between 150 and 230 € per hectare.

Criticism of CASI plan and fertilizer support

The union has criticized the Climate and Agricultural Support and Innovation (CASI) plan, noting that only 300 to 400 million euros "new money" has been allocated. Laborde noted that some farmers in his department do not apply for the CASI plan, considering the support insufficient.

Fertilizer window misalignment criticized

The fertilizer window, extended to December 31, 2026, is not aligned with the purchasing periods of corn farmers, who are requesting retroactive access to aid from March 1, 2026. Last week, only 14 million euros out of more than 140 million euros in the fertilizer plan had been requested from FranceAgriMer.

Long-term need for water storage infrastructure

In the long term, the AGPM emphasizes the need for improved water storage infrastructure, citing the potential for repeated climatic conditions similar to the 2026 year. The union welcomes the agricultural emergency law, which aims to double water reserves by 2035.

Irrigation challenges due to climate change

Laborde noted that irrigation systems were built based on average needs of 6 mm/day, but climate change has led to days with needs of 10, 11, or 12 mm, necessitating updates to infrastructure. He emphasized the need for investment in agriculture, stating that it should be viewed as a sector requiring investment rather than one solely in need of support.

Calls for protection from unfair competition

Laborde also highlighted the importance of protecting French and European farmers from unfair competition, particularly in light of current geopolitical instability.