Repeated heatwaves across Europe are having significant adverse impacts on feed supply chains, with shortages of forages and summer crops putting additional pressure on livestock producers, according to the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation, or FEFAC.

The impacts have been reported across Central, Southern and Southeastern Europe, as well as key production regions in Northwestern Europe. The situation is considered more severe than the major European heat wave recorded in 2018.

The most significant impacts involve shortages of forage and summer crops, particularly affecting cattle production. Farmers have already begun using winter silage and forages, increasing concerns about feed availability later in the year.

An expected substantial shortfall in European Union maize production is expected to add to feed supply pressures in the coming months by reducing the availability of both maize silage and maize grain.

FEFAC market experts expect the EU will need to import more than 7 million additional metric tons of maize during the new marketing year, bringing the total EU import estimate to more than 26 million metric tons. Major potential origins include Ukraine, the United States and Brazil. FEFAC said access to feed grains from additional countries outside the EU will also be important to diversify supply sources.

Increased access to imported fiber crops and co-products will also be important for ruminant livestock as producers seek alternatives to lost forage supplies. Potential sources include palm kernel expeller, sugar beet pulp and distillers grains.

FEFAC said the EU’s Deforestation Regulation could further affect palm kernel expeller availability. The regulation’s current implementation date of Dec. 31, 2026, could significantly reduce access to the product, with EU imports currently reaching about 2 million metric tons annually.

Lower forage production is also expected to increase the EU’s feed protein deficit, including for organic feed materials. FEFAC anticipates additional demand for imported soy products used in animal feed. Its latest assessment estimates that disruptions associated with the deforestation regulation could add more than 1 billion euros in direct feed sourcing costs for soy products in 2027.

FEFAC said the additional costs could be difficult for EU livestock farmers to absorb amid depressed prices for many livestock products.

The organization is calling for short-term measures to help mitigate feed supply disruptions. Among its recommendations are maintaining open transit and market access for feed grains originating in Ukraine and considering temporary national derogations for risk-based maximum residue levels for imported feed grains intended exclusively for feed use, subject to European Food Safety Authority evaluation.

FEFAC also called for suspending application of the EU Deforestation Regulation to palm kernel expeller, simplifying administrative requirements associated with the regulation for soy products used in feed, and extending temporary derogations for protein sources used in organic feed and forages.

The organization is also seeking temporary national derogations for feed truck driving hours and an increase in the maximum load for cross-border feed transportation to 44 metric tons. It also called for additional state aid to reduce fuel costs in the feed chain.

FEFAC said the measures are needed in part because continued low water levels on major inland shipping corridors are forcing significant volumes of feed materials to move by road and rail, increasing transportation costs.

For the longer term, FEFAC is calling for increased investment in domestic production of feed grains and forages, including development of drought-resistant crops using new genomic techniques.

The organization also recommended targeted investments through the European Competitiveness Fund in transportation logistics, infrastructure and storage capacity to improve the movement of feed grains and forages from surplus regions to areas facing shortages.

FEFAC further urged the European Commission to broaden the scope of its Food and Feed Safety Omnibus package to include animal byproduct legislation and other portions of EU feed legislation. The changes could improve access to safe alternative feed resources derived from circular production systems.

FEFAC also recommended establishing biomass balance sheets at the national and EU levels to better monitor biomass resources eligible for feed use, including co-products from biofuel and food and nonfood industries.

Source: FEFAC, "FEFAC initial assessment of drought impact on EU feed supply chains and possible mitigation measures"