France has announced more than one billion euros (approximately 1.16 billion dollars) in emergency aid for farmers after record heatwaves and drought devastated crops and pastures across the European Union's largest agricultural producer.
The country's main farming union says lost production has already reached at least ten billion euros, with up to 35,000 farms now in serious financial difficulty.
The package includes rapid emergency payments, a recovery fund for seeds and animal feed, tax relief and fuel subsidies.
Ross Cullen reports from Paris.
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Ross Cullen, reporting from Paris, says the drought has already forced livestock farmers to dip into winter feed reserves, raising fears of shortages later in the year.
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