"It's an atmosphere of dust": the drought is still felt among farmers

Charles Guyard 9:17 a.m., October 28, 2022

REPORTAGE

This weekend sounds the transition to winter time and yet the weather is still summer.

Seventy-seven departments are still on drought alert.

Groundwater is emptying and the situation weighs particularly heavily on the farmers met by Europe 1. 

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Supply disruption 

With spite, Antoine Baron empties his rain gauge which barely contains the equivalent of a glass of water.

"There are fifteen millimeters that date from the last few days. It's not enough to start recharging the water tables. We're not very far from a supply disruption," he explains.

This alarming observation contrasts with the greenery around the dairy farm.

Nevertheless, nature acts as a sham, it is underground that the situation is serious.

The absence of water in the groundwater is felt on the surface despite appearances. 

"Plants that no longer grow"

"The lack of water creates plants that no longer grow, it's an atmosphere of dust. Our corn crops have been impacted with a halving of yields", continues Antoine Baron.

The same corn is used to feed the cows.

If the 2021 harvest, much better, had made it possible to store to compensate.

What will happen in the future with the multiplication of droughts?

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For the breeder, the key lies in maintaining the grasslands: "they have very interesting capacities to adapt to climate change. This is the safest way to produce fodder for our animals in the years to come".

These same meadows also have the advantage of absorbing the carbon released by cultivated areas.