2 weeks ago
Punishing European Drought Shrivels Crops, Hits Farmers Across Continent
This summer, Europe has been very, very hot and dry, and lots of places haven't had enough rain.
Plants need water to grow, so many farmers' crops are dying or not growing well.
Potatoes in the Netherlands, corn in Bosnia, grapes in Italy and hops for beer in the Czech Republic are all in trouble.
Some experts think the hot, dry weather could cost European countries around 180 billion euros.
One Dutch farmer says his potatoes will be too small to make the long French fries people want.
A corn farmer in Bosnia says his fields used to grow lots of corn, but this year he may not have a harvest at all.
The Danube River is so low that boats carrying grain can't move easily, leaving crops piling up.
Even a big farm in England that built a giant water tank is worried it will run out of water.
The extra heat is partly because the Earth is getting warmer, which makes droughts like this more likely.
A severe drought is shriveling crops across Europe, including potatoes in the Netherlands, corn in Bosnia and grapes in Italy.
Triodos Bank estimates the heatwaves and drought could cut European Union GDP by 1% in 2026, around 180 billion euros ($208 billion).
Dutch potato farmer Hendrik Jan ten Cate expects his harvest to fall by about one-third, leaving potatoes too small for McDonald's French fries.
Bosnian corn grower Slavisa Lukic expects yields of just 1.5-2 tons per hectare, down from 6-7 tons in past years.
Record-low Danube River levels are disrupting grain transport in Romania, causing terminal congestion and crop pileups.
- Who
- Farmers across Europe, including Maarten Janse and Hendrik Jan ten Cate in the Netherlands, Slavisa Lukic in Bosnia and Sándor Molnár in Hungary, along with analysts and brewer Plzeňský Prazdroj.
- What
- A severe drought and heatwaves are shriveling crops, drying up water supplies and disrupting grain transport across Europe.
- Where
- Across the continent, including the Netherlands, Bosnia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary and eastern England.
- When
- During the summer of 2026.
- Why
- Accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Nino are driving the extreme dry conditions.
Key facts
- Event
- European drought and heatwaves
- Estimated EU GDP impact
- 1% in 2026, about 180 billion euros ($208 billion)
- Dutch potato harvest
- Expected down about one-third
- Bosnian corn yield
- 1.5-2 tons per hectare, down from 6-7 tons
- Danube River
- Record-low water levels disrupting grain transport
- Elveden Estate reservoir
- Nearly dry less than a year after opening
- Hungarian dairy farm
- No rain since late May; buying expensive feed
- Czech hops
- Plzeňský Prazdroj expects losses from stunted yield
Quotes
Hendrik Jan ten Cate
Zeeland farmer
““People want long fries,” he says. “That’s going to be tough this year.””
deccanchronicle.com










