Heat Wave Impacts EU Wheat Production

A severe heat wave and relentless drought have damaged fields and reduced crop yields across Europe. Recent satellite images have highlighted the impact of the weather with fields turned yellow and brown when they should be green at this time of year. The conditions have resulted in farmers across the EU calling for government support. For example, German farmers are calling for a special aid package of €1 billion to help cover their losses.

The following infographic uses the EU Commission's Monitoring of Agricultural Resources (MARS) forcecast to highlight the impact on the 2018 wheat harvest. Things are looking positive in Southern Europe where countries enjoyed a wetter than average spring but the situation is poor in Northwest and Eastern Europe. Wheat production in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Poland and Romania is set to decline noticeably compared to 2017.