欧洲今年夏季遭遇严重干旱和热浪。[1]爱尔兰7月无降雨，创造该国有记录以来最干旱的7月纪录，同时也是1900年以来最热的7月。[1]干旱对农业造成沉重打击，奶农的饲料周成本大幅攀升。奶农Darragh McCullough的饲料周成本从11,000欧元跃升至14,000欧元。[1]Teagasc估计爱尔兰奶农的日均成本已上升至约300万欧元。[1]
干旱影响范围已扩展至整个欧洲。奥地利谷物收成预计下降约20%，[1]法国玉米收成预计为近40年最低。[1]爱尔兰东部土壤含水量赤字超过90毫米，需要每公顷900,000升水来恢复。[1]面对危机，爱尔兰政府召集国家饲料和食品安全委员会召开紧急会议。[1]
农业人士指出这一危机的广泛性。McCullough表示："如果爱尔兰发生干旱，英国的情况只会更糟，欧洲更是如此。"[1]科学家预测气候变化将导致更频繁的极端天气，威胁欧洲农业可持续性，预计还将推高整个欧洲的粮食价格。[1]
Europe's agricultural sector faces mounting pressure as severe drought and heat waves grip the continent this summer, with Ireland experiencing particularly acute conditions.[1] Ireland recorded its driest July on record and its hottest July since 1900, with zero rainfall during the month.[1] The extreme weather has triggered a dramatic surge in farming costs across the region, with Irish dairy farmers bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Individual farmers are confronting unprecedented expenses as feed prices skyrocket. Dairy farmer Darragh McCullough saw his weekly feed costs climb from €11,000 to €14,000 due to the drought.[1] According to Teagasc, the Irish agricultural authority, average daily costs for Irish dairy farmers have risen to approximately €3 million.[1] McCullough warned that the situation extends well beyond Ireland's borders, stating: "If Ireland is having a drought, the UK will be worse off, and Europe even more so."[1] The soil moisture deficit in eastern Ireland exceeds 90 millimeters, requiring 900,000 liters of water per hectare to restore normal conditions.[1]
The agricultural impact reverberates across Europe's grain production. Austria's cereal harvest is expected to decline by approximately 20 percent, while France anticipates its lowest corn yield in nearly four decades.[1] In response to the escalating crisis, the Irish government convened an emergency meeting of its National Feed and Food Safety Committee, originally scheduled for Tuesday.[1]