French farmers dip into winter fodder as drought leaves pastures bare

Cover image: At La Recette farm in Echouboulains, east of Paris, Philippe Dufour's cows are now being fed in the barn because the pastures have dried out. © Zeenat Hansrod

Repeated heatwaves and drought have made it a punishing summer for French farmers – scorching pastures, straining livestock and driving up costs. With grass disappearing from fields, cattle farmers across the country are already dipping into fodder meant to feed their herds through winter.

The National Federation of Milk Producers, or FNPL, said winter fodder stocks were already being used by many farmers across France by late July.