“For now, the good weather in October is a big advantage. Autumn sowing conditions are very good”, testifies Benoît Piétrement, president of the council specializing in field crops of FranceAgriMer and cereal in the Marne. A satisfaction quickly accompanied by the expression of fear. “The first sowing of winter wheat and barley was carried out at the beginning of October, and until about October 20. However, with the heat and some rainfall, the earliest ones have germinated and some are already at the four-leaf stage. It goes very fast. So far everything is going well, but if it continues too long there is a risk that the crop will be too advanced and become susceptible to frost if temperatures drop suddenly”he explains.
This rapid crop growth also concerns rapeseed, planted from August. Sun and heat boost plant growth. In the gardens, everbearing strawberries continue to bear fruit. Nevertheless, “this is normalsays Xavier Mas, producer in Lot-et-Garonne and president of the National Association of Producer Organizations (AOP) Strawberries in France. Usually, we finish the harvest in November, but there is little production volume at this time of the year”.
Arborists are, for their part, expectant. “The leaves are struggling to fall. We will see in the spring if this warm autumn month will affect the fruit trees”, says Bruno Darnaud, president of the PDO peaches and apricots, arborist in the Drôme. As for cattle breeders, they are happy to see their herds grazing on green and flowery grass.
It prevents. This new episode is part of an unprecedented meteorological soap opera that has taken place throughout the year and is shaking up farmers. “You can have a few hot days in October, but never for such a long timeemphasizes Mr. Piétrement. Everything is surprising this year. » After a mild winter which favored the start of crops, the spring was particularly dry and the high temperatures and the lack of water were further amplified in the heart of summer.
Wheat, barley and rapeseed did well
Concern has risen a notch among farmers. From the harvest to the grape harvest, including the harvesting of the fruits, all the calendars have been disrupted due to the precocity. Production volumes were more or less affected depending on their exposure to water stress and heat. While wheat, barley and rapeseed did well and vines benefited from saving rains in certain regions in August, corn, beet and potato yields were affected. The meadows have also roasted, forcing the breeders to feed the animals with fodder, before becoming green again thanks to the rainfall in August or September.
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