This setback underscores the mounting challenges posed by climate change for future harvests.
The farming sector, often at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns, experienced a turbulent year in 2023. After facing extreme drought during May and June, the situation took a dramatic turn with excessive rainfall in July and August. Jean Muller, director of the Kleinbettingen mill, offered insights into the wheat harvest, remarking, “the impact of the drought was evident early on, with smaller kernels. However, the harvest began early, similar to the previous year. But then, three weeks of heavy rainfall in July severely compromised the quality.”
The repercussions were significant, with more than 90% of post-rainfall wheat deemed unsuitable for bread production and consequently downgraded for use as feed wheat. Other crops also endured the dual blow of compromised quality and reduced yield, resulting in a 15% drop compared to 2022, which had itself only achieved slightly above-average production.
Steve Turmes, director of the Luxembourg Seed Growers’ Cooperative, stressed the need for farmers to brace themselves for prolonged periods of extreme weather, be it dry spells or excessive rainfall. He outlined four key areas for attention: flexibility, water management, crop selection, and the critical adjustment of seed timing to accommodate shifting weather patterns.
The low selling price of cereals has been compounded by rising production costs, with the result that most farmers will not be able to cover their costs. Minister of Agriculture Claude Haagen has disclosed that over 450 agricultural businesses have procured insurance policies against yield losses, with insured values reaching approximately €150 million.
