Anomalous hell turns Europe into a continuous “valley of death”

The heat wave that killed thousands in Europe this summer has hit crops as well. The food issue, which has become more acute in the EU since February, now threatens to turn into a real disaster. Details – in the material of the European correspondent Vitaly Chashchukhin.

Impact on the European crop

Absolute temperature records turn fertile Europe into one continuous “valley of death”. Sunflowers, which are usually on the contrary drawn to the sun, also wither. No vegetable oil or seeds are to be expected. With olives, things are no better: instead of juicy and fleshy – completely “wrinkled” fruits.

“Virtually rainless from March until today”– olive grower Filippo Legnaoli is depressed.

Rotten melons are hauled out of Italian fields by trucks, and perhaps such goodness is now in abundance.

“Melons ripen so much that they become waste, and we have to throw them away. Like the one I hold in my hands – it cracked due to the heat”says farmer Lorenzo Cavalli.

Full “kaput” and a drop in production

In all other respects, Europe suffers from underproduction. Potatoes are dying, there is a crop failure of corn, wheat and animal feed. The fall in production is immediately 18%.

In a German region famous for its cherries, apples and plums, farmers describe what is happening in one word – “kaput”.

“There is no water, the heat, there are not enough people. There are not even words here!” – outraged resident of Germany.

Only the costs are rising. And especially from the trees, which are no longer cared for and watered, it is clear how hard they endure this abnormal heat. The leaves on the branch are completely dry. In such conditions, little will be born.

Water problems

We also have to reap the fruits of a short-sighted energy policy. Sky-high gas and electricity prices are driving farmers into even greater losses. And the authorities everywhere are introducing more and more new restrictions, including on the most important thing now – water. It is given according to the schedule or not given at all. And where would you get it? Rivers have dried up in Italy, reservoirs are rapidly disappearing across Europe – as the largest in Spanish Malaga.

“The situation with the reservoir is getting worse and worse. Especially in this area, where there are many farmers who need water.”– Jesus, a resident of the Spanish La Vinuela, shares his fears.

The damage from the drought is already estimated at billions of euros, and livestock farms are also ruined. Cattle eat and drink less, the production of milk and meat is completely disrupted. In Spanish cowsheds, additional fans are installed; in Italian ones, they even build showers for cows.

“Despite all the measures taken, we still faced a significant decrease in production, about 15%. Each cow now gives three and a half liters of milk less”, – explains the president of the Italian company Coldiretti Como e Lecco Fortunato Trezzi.

What will happen to the prices in stores, no one is guessing. There would be, in principle, the goods in stock. Even something that usually flowed like a river at that time may turn out to be in short supply. Germans have a poor hop harvest ahead of Oktoberfest. Young wine in Europe is now with a bitter aftertaste of smoke – due to forest fires caused by the same heat, up to a quarter of the grape harvest is lost.