# "We are short of straw and short of hay": drought continues to penalise farmers struggling to feed their animals

> French livestock farmers are running short of hay and straw after summer drought and heatwaves forced them to start feeding stocks about five months earlier than usual. In Vendée, the FDSEA union launched a straw-ordering operation, and a dairy farmer reported buying 40 tonnes of extra hay for about 5,000 euros and straw prices rising to 150-180 euros per tonne from 80-100.

- Date: 2026-11-12 · published 2026-11-12T12:16:23.899Z
- Category: weather · region EU · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/95463-we-are-short-of-straw-and-short-of-hay-drought-continues-to-penalise-farmers
- Commodities: [Alfalfa Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/ALFALFA.md), [Grass Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/GRASSHAY.md)

## Why it matters

Tight domestic forage and bedding supplies in France raise feed costs for ruminant producers and increase demand for imported hay and fodder, supporting local hay and straw prices into winter.

## Read by commodity

- ALFALFA: bullish ▲
- GRASSHAY: bullish ▲

## Sources

- france3-regions.franceinfo.fr: https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/vendee/on-manque-de-paille-et-on-manque-de-foin-la-secheresse-continue-de-penaliser-les-agriculteurs-qui-peinent-a-nourrir-leurs-animaux-3448326.html

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.