Extreme heat forces French grain elevators to operate at night

An intense heatwave in France is forcing farmers and grain infrastructure operators to adapt their working schedules. Due to exceptionally high temperatures and an elevated wildfire risk, many farmers are harvesting crops only during the early morning and late evening hours, while some grain elevators have begun operating at night to receive grain deliveries.

In several regions, local authorities have imposed restrictions on fieldwork during the hottest part of the day, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The measures are aimed at reducing the risk of fires caused by agricultural machinery. In response, some grain storage and receiving facilities have adjusted their operating hours to ensure uninterrupted intake of the new harvest.

French farmers report that weather conditions are significantly complicating the harvest campaign. According to producers, operating combines during the daytime has become nearly impossible because of the heat, while the risk of fires in extremely dry fields remains very high. In some areas, farmers have already had to extinguish fires that broke out during harvesting operations.

In addition to fire risks, growers are facing declining crop yields. Wheat producers say that adverse weather conditions throughout the season, including excessive rainfall during winter and several heatwaves in late spring and early summer, have negatively affected crop development. In some farms, soft wheat yields have fallen well below economically viable levels.

France’s largest farming organization, FNSEA, believes that the outlook for corn and sunflower crops will largely depend on future rainfall. However, the situation for wheat is considered more challenging, as excessive dryness may result in smaller kernels that can be lost during harvesting. Experts also note that this year’s heatwave arrived much earlier than the record-breaking heat of 2003, increasing risks for the 2026 harvest and highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather events on agriculture.

Tags: France, silos