Heatwave Devastates European Agriculture, Leaving Farmers on Brink of Collapse

European agriculture is facing significant losses due to the ongoing heatwave, with crop losses amounting to 2 billion euros in June and increasing further in July. Wheat losses have been recorded in several countries, including Austria, Hungary, Poland, central and southern France, and southern Germany. The greatest damage has been suffered by French and Hungarian agricultural producers.

The drought has also affected animal husbandry, with Alpine meadows unable to provide enough water and feed for cows. As a result, farmers are being forced to buy hay in the summer, which is financially challenging. In Switzerland, politicians have failed to find a solution to the problem, leading to a 230-cattle increase in slaughters compared to last year.

Experts predict that significant losses in grain yields may lead to an increase in demand for grain imports and a reduction in wheat exports from France to African countries. Feed prices are expected to rise, negatively affecting livestock producers in the coming months. Food inflation in the EU stood at 9 percent as of July 2026.