France Faces Lowest Potato Yield in More Than 30 Years as Drought Damages Crops

France’s potato sector is facing its most difficult harvest in more than three decades as drought and extreme heat damage crops. Dry soils and limited irrigation have slowed tuber growth, reduced potato sizes, and increased the risk of lower marketable yields. Farmers in several production regions are reporting serious crop stress, although conditions vary by soil type, planting date, variety, and access to water. Officials and industry groups are monitoring fields closely before issuing final national production estimates later this season.