French Agriculture Reports 2.5-3 Million Chicken Deaths in Late June Heatwave, Equal to 1% of Annual Production

Le Monde reported that between 2.5 million and 3 million broiler chickens died nationwide during the late June heatwave, with 6,600 metric tons of poultry lost in Brittany alone. The losses equal 1 percent of annual production. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard stated on BFMTV on July 1 that French agriculture is in crisis mode because of the heatwave, which she described as exceptional.

The heatwave burned tree leaves, stunted crop growth, disrupted plant fertilization, slowed milk production and decimated poultry farms. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to chair an interministerial meeting on the afternoon of July 3 to assess the impact on agriculture. Yann Nédélec, director of Anvol, called the episode historic and significant both individually and collectively.

A photograph taken June 29 in one of Yannick Frain's salt meadow lamb pastures in Roz-sur-Couesnon, Brittany, captured conditions in the region during the period.