Drought hits European dairy farmers

European dairy farmers are suffering one of the worst droughts for decades, which has a knock-on effect on winter fodder supplies. With temperatures exceeding 30°C and no rain falling for over a month, livestock, crops and grass are suffering. Irrigators are using 10 litres of diesel per hour, for 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, and while the costs of this have to be met by vegetable farmers, livestock farmers say they cannot afford it. Effect on grass and silage Pasture based dairy farmers ar