Romania’s extreme summer weather devastates crop yields, cattle numbers

ROMANIA – Romania is grappling with the severe consequences of a scorching and dry summer, which has wreaked havoc on the country’s agricultural sector. 

As temperatures soared and rainfall remained scarce, forecasts for this year’s grain and oilseed harvests, particularly in southeastern regions, have dimmed. 

The situation has become dire enough that livestock owners have begun tapping into their winter forages, hinting at the possibility of increased cattle slaughtering in the coming months.

According to recent reports, drought conditions have ravaged approximately 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) of corn and sunflower fields across the country. 

Wheat and rapeseed harvests, too, are expected to fall significantly below the optimistic projections made at the start of the growing season. 

The financial toll is substantial, with the estimated value of lost production ranging from EUR 1.5 billion to EUR 1.8 billion (US$1.68 billion to US$2.01 billion). 

However, Romania’s agriculture ministry offers a more conservative estimate, placing the losses at EUR 500 (US$556) million to EUR 600 (US$667) million—figures many farmers argue will not cover the cultivation costs.

The adverse weather affects current harvests and jeopardises 330,000 hectares of autumn crops, casting a shadow over Romania’s future agriculture.

The grim reality of the situation is further underscored by reports from Ziarul Financiar, which predict that Romania’s corn crop could plummet to its lowest level in 15 years, potentially reaching just 7 million metric tons (MMT). 

This would mark a stark decline from last year’s 10.9 MMT and the earlier estimates of 10.6 MMT to 10.8 MMT. The most severe losses are anticipated in regions lacking irrigation systems.

Despite these challenges, the latest quarterly update on the grain and feed situation in the European Union (EU), published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in early August, provides a somewhat mixed picture. 

While yield losses in Romania are inevitable, the report suggests that the quality of the remaining grain might still be good. 

Favourable rainfall patterns supported winter grain development in western and northwestern Romania. However, other regions faced flooding or insufficient rainfall, compounded by a cool spring and a sudden temperature spike in May.

The FAS also projects a decrease in total EU grain production for the current marketing year, largely due to reduced planting areas and lower yields across most grains, except for barley and oats.

Romania, a key export-oriented state, is expected to see a significant drop in export volumes, affecting the EU’s overall export capacity in 2024-25.

As the summer heatwave takes its toll, Romania’s cattle farmers are forced to make tough decisions. With limited grass growth and constrained forage harvests, many are contemplating reducing herd sizes. 

The shortage of feed, coupled with rising feed costs and falling livestock prices—down 30-40% from last year—has put enormous pressure on cattle farmers. 

According to the National Association of Beef Cattle Breeders, Romania’s cattle population, once 7 million strong, has dwindled to just over 1 million. 

The current crisis threatens to push more farmers out of business, a move that could prove irreversible once farms are closed.

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