- Despite a slight improvement in recent days, rain has fallen in abundance over Nantes since October.
- Cows do not graze and farmers fear a shortage of fodder.
- The water tables are full but do not protect the region from drought this summer.
It has not escaped anyone that it has rained a lot in recent weeks in Nantes and its region. If the monthly rainfall records have not yet been broken, we risk reaching historic levels for the month of March. 108.2 millimeters of rain have already fallen this month (including 47 for the day of March 1 and the passage of the storm Leon). On average, between 1981 and 2010, only 60 millimeters of water fell in March. Over this period, the record dated 2001 with 139.8 millimeters of rain. We approach it at high speed.
"In terms of rainfall, the year 2019 is nothing exceptional, analyzes Jean-Christophe Richard, farmer in Couffé. On the other hand, the distribution is catastrophic. 275 millimeters of rain fell between January 1 and September 20 and more than 400 millimeters between September 20 and December 31. We will soon have two seasons, a long, dry summer and a mild, wet winter. "
Overconsumption of hay
Heavy rainfall has two main consequences for agricultural activity. “Because of the rain, we were only able to sow in October 70% of the wheat that we usually sow, regrets Jérôme Maillard, operator in Pornic. And of what we sowed, 30% is not usable. It's enormous. "
Above all, its bad weather affects the stock of fodder. "We had to bring in the animals prematurely and there is an overconsumption of hay because they cannot graze," adds Mickaël Trigné, farmer in Ligné. It becomes problematic. Farmers fear a sharp rise in prices which would have serious consequences for the economy of their farms.
"We could not make water reserves"
After a long drought until October, the land is again very wet. Which may suggest a less arid summer. "The water tables are well raised and the ponds are full," says Jean-Christophe Richard. If there is a drought this summer, it will only be at ground level. It should be less important than last year. "
Antoine Thiberge, director of the Nantes market gardeners federation, does not have quite the same look. “The level of the aquifers is not in excess of usual, the water still enters the soil. It does not protect us from a major drought this summer. "
The market gardener nevertheless believes that everything is not done, in the department, to avoid this scenario this summer. “Despite the rain that fell in abundance, we could not make water supplies. On this point, we are behind compared to other regions. We should be able to develop a greater capacity to capture part of the water to use it in summer. "
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- Drought
- Agriculture
- Nantes
- Rain