Climate
France temporarily eases Comté grazing rules as drought dries out pastures
France has temporarily eased grazing rules for Comté, Beaufort and Abondance as drought leaves pastures unable to provide enough feed. Producers may now supplement their cows’ diets with more fodder and grain from other regions. Drought affected 95% of metropolitan France in July, while permanent grassland growth measured on August 10 was one-third below the 1989–2018 average. Further exemptions are expected for other protected cheeses. The drought is also reducing milk and cheese production, while France’s potato growers forecast a 23% drop in this year’s harvest.