agricultural unions fear a shortage of milk

Fields yellowed, scorched by drought, with no cows on the horizon. Their breeder must have put them in a shed ten days ago. “They move around the building less, they spend a lot more time lying down, so that has an impact on milk production”, explains François Mantel, breeder of dairy cows. His 120 cows produce less milk. He feeds them a mixture of grass and corn harvested the previous year, and stored for the winter.

However, its reserves have been largely depleted. “Since May 15, it’s as if we were in the middle of winter”, he confides. Above all, he fears for 2023: 30% of his corn will yield nothing. If he had to buy fodder, he would have to sell his cows. Some breeders are already there according to agricultural union officials, who warn of an upcoming milk shortage. “In the next six months, there will be a lack of milk in the dairy industries in France”predicts Yannick Fialip, chairman of the FNSEA’s economic commission.