In Europe, they announced a catastrophic decline in the harvest due to the heat

Farmers in France, Italy and Spain reported sharp declines in yields due to prolonged heat and drought. The British newspaper The Guardian wrote about this on August 18.

In France, the largest grain producer in Europe, the corn harvest in 2026 may be reduced by 35% to 9 million tons. According to the publication, the last time a comparable production level was recorded was in 1980. A significant decrease is also noted in vegetable growing: the harvest of zucchini decreased by 25%, lettuce — by 35%, peas — by 40%, broccoli — by 60%, and artichokes — by 50-100%.

Hay production for winter feeding of livestock in France turned out to be about 30% lower than the average for 1989-2018. This creates additional difficulties for livestock farms.

In Italy, moderate to severe drought affected about 60% of agricultural land. The National Organization of Farmers and Agricultural Producers reported a significant decrease in yields of vegetables, fruits and other crops. Milk production decreased by about 20%.

In Spain, the grain harvest in Castile and Leon was 35% lower than last year's level, in the Madrid region — by 49%, and in Andalusia — by 24%. Sheep's and goat's milk production decreased by 6.5% and 10.8%, respectively. The National Wine Federation of Spain predicts a decrease in wine production by about 20% in 2026.

The governments of the EU countries have promised to provide financial support to agricultural producers. In particular, French Prime Minister Sebastian Lecorny announced the allocation of €145 million in emergency aid, as well as additional structural support and investment measures in the budget for 2027.

It's stuffy to live: abnormal heat as a new economic norm in Europe

Temperature records on the continent are provoking a sharp increase in costs

The New York Times reported on August 15 that the number of victims during the heat wave in June in Europe exceeded 16 thousand people. According to mortality data, the sweltering heat week in Europe in June 2026 proved to be "extraordinarily deadly," triggering a historic spike in deaths on the continent.

On August 14, Bloomberg noted that the record heat wave and drought that gripped Europe this summer threaten to negate almost all of the projected 1.1% gross domestic product growth in the European Union in 2026. Also in France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, the corn harvest will be the worst since 1980, as yields will fall by almost 20%, leading to higher grain prices.