France warns that heat wave could reduce corn harvest by up to 30%.

The French Ministry of Agriculture reported this Thursday (25) that the country's corn production could fall by up to 30% in the 2025/26 crop year, pressured by a combination of reduced planted area and the impacts of the intense heat wave affecting the country. According to ministry technicians, reports from producers indicate that high temperatures could reduce crop productivity by between 10% and 15%, increasing the losses already expected for the season. Even before the deterioration of weather conditions, the ministry was already projecting a 19% reduction in the area destined for corn cultivation for grains compared to the previous year. Now, producers are showing concern about the possibility of further losses, as the crops approach the pollination phase, considered one of the most critical stages for defining the crop's productive potential. The Ministry of Agriculture stressed that the estimates are still preliminary, as pollination is expected to begin next week. Furthermore, the weather forecast indicates a lack of significant rainfall in the coming days, a scenario that could keep crops under water stress even after the current heat wave weakens. If the 30% drop is confirmed, French corn production will fall below 10 million tons, compared to the 13.2 million tons harvested in the last season.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.