Drier than 1976? Drier than 2003? Yes, Indre et Loire has had the lowest rainfall these past few months since records began in 1959.
Another extraordinary year it seems.
Cracked earth, set hard like concrete. And we’re only talking about the end of April. Things started well at the beginning of the year. We had plently of rain at the end of last year in September and October and then again from December to mid-February.
I reported that the soil in the vineyards was in excellent condition. Light and free after adequate rain and frost that loosened up the structure.
Since then however, things have changed. We only had 31mm of rain between mid-February and the end of April. Normally we’d expect somewhere between 120 and 130mm. A situation never seen before since France started collecting data on rainfall in 1959.
Even in 1976 and 2003 (two years known for drought), there was 56mm of rain during the same period.
It’s not just the Loire that is affected. The whole of France is to a greater or lesser extent.
Obviously vines need water to grow and survive but this situation affects other crops too. It’s likely there’ll be little winter forage this year for feeding livestock and also little grass (and therefore less hay).
The oilseed rape and wheat fields are suffering and the plants are in what we call hydric stresss.
Fortunately, these past few days we’ve had some rain. More news to follow.
