Agriculture wonders about its adaptation to global warming

The mercury is panicking, approaching or even exceeding 35°C in many regions, and tension is rising on farms. Especially since this new unprecedented heat wave in mid-June follows a previous episode of high temperatures and lack of rain in May. Read also: Heat wave: fourteen departments on red alert, temperature records for the month of June in at least eleven municipalities “For all crops that have not reached maturity, there is a risk of scalding. That is to say that the grain does not fill up, explains Eric Thirouin, president of the General Association of Wheat Producers, cereal producer in Eure-et-Loir. The harvest has started for winter barley two weeks ahead of schedule. The first harvests concern the superficial soils which have suffered the most from water stress and heat. There are yield declines on these lands, but it will take a few weeks to assess the overall potential, as there have been beneficial storms. According to data published by FranceAgriMer, Friday June 17, the rate of wheat crops deemed good or very good reached 65% against 81% in the same period of 2021. For barley, it is 63% against 76% one year earlier. The spring heat also accelerated the growth of grass leading to an early first cut among breeders. Fruit producers, such as cherries or apricots, also witnessed rapid ripening, without obtaining the usual sizes. Events that shake up the practices of farmers, who are used to juggling the weather. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers The very early drought worries French farmers: “It hasn’t rained for a month and a half” Concern about water “I’ve been here for decades. This is the third time this year that I have watered wheat. Where there were water tensions in July and August, there is a risk of high temperatures from June to September, with climate change,” says Mr. Thirouin, who has therefore already started his irrigation potential, to the detriment corn and potato crops, usually watered in the summer. “The big concern is water. With the rise in temperatures, the need for water will become more important for the same yield”, underlines Bruno Darnaud, president of the AOP peaches and apricots, arborist in the Drôme, even if he says he is satisfied for the moment. to irrigate its orchards with water from the Rhône. However, today, 48% of the water consumed in France is absorbed by irrigation. However, according to data published by the National Research Institute 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. Then 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%. You have 51.91% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.