Agricultural crisis: Annie Genevard warns that "the bill will be very high"

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard is warning of the far-reaching consequences of the drought, five heatwaves, and wildfires that marked the summer of 2026. She describes a profound agricultural crisis affecting the entire country and numerous sectors. Some harvests have collapsed, corn production is causing serious concern, and several regions are already experiencing a shortage of animal feed for livestock.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been operating in crisis mode since May and June, and several support measures have been activated. However, the precise amount of losses remains impossible to determine, as the damage varies considerably depending on the region, the crops, and the farms. The Minister acknowledges, nevertheless, that the financial needs will be particularly significant.

A territorial assessment is expected on August 27th.

Annie Genevard will meet with the prefects on August 27 to establish a detailed assessment of the decline in production in each department. This work should allow the government to tailor aid to the sectors and regions hardest hit. The FNSEA is already calling for several billion euros in emergency support to protect struggling farms.

The state is expected to shoulder the bulk of the financial burden, but the minister is also calling on banks, insurers, local authorities, and major retailers to contribute. She assures that no massive and widespread increase in food prices has been observed so far. Retailers could, in particular, accept smaller fruits and vegetables, a consequence of water shortages, while simultaneously improving the compensation paid to producers.