While irrigation absorbs 48 % of the water consumed in France, the repeated heat waves force cereal trees, breeders and market gardeners to review their production methods.
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Mercury is panicking, bordering on, or even exceeding, 35 ° C in many regions, and tension rises in farms. Especially since this new unpublished heat wave in mid-June follows a previous episode of high temperatures and the lack of rain in May.
“For all cultures that have not matured, there is a risk of scalding. That is to say that the grain does not fill, explains Eric Thirouin, president of the general association Wheat producers, cerealier in Eure-et-Loir. The harvests started for winter barley with fifteen days in advance. The first harvests concern the superficial soils that have suffered the most from water stress and heat. There are yield reductions on these lands, but it will take a few weeks to assess the overall potential, because there have been beneficial thunderstorms. “According to data published by Franceagimer, Friday, June 17, the rate of wheat crops deemed Good or very good reached 65 % against 81 % at the same period of 2021. For barley, it is 63 %, against 76 % a year earlier.
Spring hottie has also accelerated grass growth causing an early cup in breeders. Fruit producers, such as cherries or apricots, also attended a speed of ripening, without obtaining the usual calibers. Events that shake up the practices of farmers, however accustomed to juggle the weather.
worry about water
“It has been ten years since I have been installed. This year, this year, that I have been driving up wheat. Where we had water tensions in July and August, we risk Having high temperatures from June to September, with climate change, “said Mr. Thirouin, who has therefore already started his irrigation potential, to the detriment of corn and potato crops, usually watered during the summer.
“The big concern is water. With the rise in temperatures, the need for water will become more important for the same yield,” said Bruno Darnaud, president of the AOP peaches and Apricots, arboriculturer in Drôme, even if he is said to be satisfied for the moment to irrigate his orchards with the Rhône water. However, today, 48 % of the water consumed in France is absorbed by irrigation. However, according to data published by the National Institute of Research for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), only 5 % of the useful agricultural area is irrigated. Unsurprisingly, corn in all its forms, grains, seeds or fodder, represents almost half of these watered hectares. Next comes wheat with 18 %, an increasing share, then orchards (8 %), market gardening (7 %), finally beets, potatoes, rapeseed or vines each represent between 2 and 4 %.
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