France Unveils More Than €1 Billion in Emergency Aid as Extreme Weather Leaves Farmers Facing Massive Losses

France has announced more than €1 billion in emergency support for farmers hit by an exceptionally hot and dry summer, as record heatwaves, drought and wildfires have caused severe damage to crops, livestock and farm finances.

The aid package, announced on September 4 by Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard, is designed both to compensate farmers for exceptional losses and to help them restart production. The government says the scale of the intervention reflects the severity of the agricultural crisis facing France after months of extreme weather.

Around €520 million is expected to be mobilised through France’s national solidarity compensation scheme for weather-related agricultural losses. The government said payments would be accelerated, with farmers who have insurance able to receive advances of up to 80 percent of their estimated compensation, compared with the previous 70 percent ceiling.

A further €235 million recovery fund will support farmers with essential inputs including seeds, animal feed and plants. The wider package also includes €30 million for losses that cannot be covered through insurance, as well as continued support for fertiliser purchases and agricultural fuel. The exceptional fertiliser assistance, worth €145 million, has been extended through the end of 2026, while a fuel subsidy worth €106 million will continue through October.

The financial assistance comes after an exceptionally difficult summer for French agriculture. Government figures released in August showed drought conditions affecting 98 departments, with 57 classified as being in a crisis situation involving significant restrictions on water use. Farmers have faced dried-out pastures, shortages of animal feed and deteriorating cash flow, while crops have suffered from prolonged heat and a lack of rainfall.

The damage is substantial. Estimates cited in the latest reporting put losses in both livestock and arable farming at more than €5 billion each, meaning agricultural losses could exceed €10 billion overall. Between 30,000 and 35,000 farms are considered to be experiencing serious financial difficulties as a result of the weather crisis.

The crisis is also becoming an economic concern beyond individual farms. France’s finance ministry has estimated that the agricultural downturn could reduce the country’s economic growth by around 0.1 percentage points this year. Lower agricultural output could also put additional pressure on food supplies and prices if production losses persist.

The government has been introducing emergency measures throughout the summer as conditions deteriorated. In June and July, authorities introduced measures to help farmers manage the impact of extreme heat, including support for animal feed, adjustments to agricultural rules and measures intended to protect future production. By August, the government had expanded its response as drought spread across much of the country.

The latest package is therefore both an emergency rescue effort and part of a longer-term attempt to make French agriculture more resilient to extreme weather. The government says it will continue programmes focused on water infrastructure, crop diversification, orchard renovation and agricultural adaptation to climate change.