France to harvest smallest corn crop in 50 years, FAS says
In Missouri, World Grain reported that France, the largest corn producer in the European Union, is forecast to harvest its smallest crop in 50 years due to severe drought, while many other EU countries also are expecting lower production totals in the 2026-27 marketing year, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.
France’s corn output is expected to decline by 50% year on year to less than 7 million tons, while total EU corn production was revised 4% lower from the agency’s July forecast to 48.2 million tons. If realized, it would be a 15% decline from the EU’s 2025-26 total and the smallest crop thus far in the 21st century.
The FAS said French corn growers reduced their plantings for 2026 after disappointing yields in 2025.
“The five consecutive heatwaves and the drought that started in May 2026 scorched pastureland and corn fields altogether,” the FAS said. “Even irrigated corn fields (about 34% of total corn grain area) were impacted as local authorities severely restricted irrigation to save drinking water for the population.”
France’s corn yield is expected to fall below 6.5 tons per hectare, the FAS said, 10% lower than the July estimate and 30% below the five-year average, according to the report.
Category: Food & Agriculture
