Harvest
On many fields, the maize has already been harvested. Elsewhere it is still standing, but in some cases has failed to reach even two metres in height. For many farmers, this year's maize harvest is shaping up to be a poor one.
Christian Hahn, president of Luxembourg's Chamber of Agriculture, demonstrated the problem in one of his maize fields in Rood, holding up a particularly small cob. "This cob is between 10 and 15cm long and perhaps has 40 or 50 kernels," he explained. A normal cob would contain around 400 to 500 kernels and be roughly twice the size.
The extent of the damage varies considerably depending on location and how much rain individual fields received. Hahn estimates that yields could be down by more than 60% on some fields. A smaller maize harvest also means farmers risk running short of feed for their livestock over the winter.
To compensate, some are now trying to sow additional grass mixtures, hoping the recent rain will allow them to bring in another cut of hay. Even then, Hahn expects a substantial shortfall. The effects may already be showing elsewhere in the agricultural sector. Meat prices are coming under pressure as more animals are being slaughtered than would normally be the case at this time of year.
The drought has not only hit maize. Fruit and vegetable grower Jean-Claude Muller, president of the Luxembourg Fruit Growers' Association, has also had to contend with smaller harvests. "The plants produced plenty of potatoes, but then there wasn't enough water for them to grow properly," he said. Some are now too small to be sold.
At first glance, his lettuce field appears healthy, but Muller said appearances are deceptive. Kohlrabi has also suffered from the heat, while insect damage has created an additional problem. Many leaves are covered in holes after pests fed on the plants and weakened them.
Even most fruit varieties struggled with the extreme temperatures of recent weeks. This year's strawberries have already been harvested, but the plants themselves suffered badly from the heat, and Muller is concerned that the damage could also affect next year's crop.
He hopes the recent rain could still benefit certain autumn and winter crops, including cabbage and celery. And for some vegetables, including potatoes and pumpkins, lower yields may at least be partly offset by better quality. That may do little to improve farmers' finances, but could mean better flavour for consumers.